Zuraida Has Some Recommendation For Incoming MPIC Minister

Former Minister of the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin who helmed the post for about 14-month has called on her successor to focus on two great potentials in the sector, palm oil, and rubber.

Naming them as having much potential she has said the Ministry can be self-sustainable and even a money-generating ministry, this also comes after MARGA President had called on the new Prime Minister to appoint a credible minister for the post.

Penning a statement since her loss at the recent General Election bout, the former Minister said proper attention needs to be accorded to spurring market expansion, product/service marketability, research & development (R&D), and application of innovation and technology. Zooming into two core commodities which are palm oil and rubber as key examples, MPIC could in the future push for consolidation of oil palm plantations/rubber estates under one roof to foster effective and sustainable management.

On addressing pricey cooking oil, Zuraida suggests streamlining of the cooking oil subsidy programme under one single agency – i.e., under MPIC for better distribution and price control as opposed to KPDNHEP. This she said will prevent overlapping and confusion as to which authority should have the final say pertaining to the pricing or price control mechanism of cooking oil.

Having seen the rocketing price of palm oil and later the steep drop, the Minister has seen both spectrums of the sector and addressed genuine concerns from the industry. She was also instrumental in generating market access for the commodity, especially in the Middle East.

Lastly, Zuraida encourages the future Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities to look into the threshold for qualifying commodity products. And look into the expansion of various profitable commodities such as pineapples, coconuts and durians – all of which can justify MPIC’s role as an income-generating commodity ministry.

This will be apart from its key focus of boosting major commodity crops such as palm oil rubber, timber, cocoa, pepper, and fibre. She also mooted the idea for the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development to focus on the community and related matters, and allow MPIC to manage all commodities.

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