Category: Business

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries (MAFI) has issued over 100,000 travel permits to fishermen, farmers and livestock breeders throughout the Movement Control Order (MCO) and under the National Recovery Plan (PPN).

Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee said the move was to ensure there is sufficient food supply for the people and those given the approval to travel nationwide, should adhere to the standard operating procedures (SOPs) set to curb the spread of COVID-19.

“The approval issued by MAFI is for those categorised under the informal sector which is different from the travel permit issued by MITI (Ministry of International Trade and Industry) for the agro-food industry sector.

“The informal sector involves fishermen, farmers and breeders and it is important to allow them to travel so that our food supply is not disrupted during the pandemic and movement control,” he told reporters after presenting food basket aid to 100 fishermen at Pasar Nelayan Kampung Pasir Putih here today.

At the event Ronald also announced an allocation of RM450,000 to upgrade the market which has been proposed to be a one-stop agrotourism centre because of its strategic location and potential to be developed for the benefit of the local community.

Later in a statement Ronald said the supply of fish was sufficient and stable to meet the country’s needs, adding that the average monthly fish supply for this year is expected to remain stable at 169,000 tonnes compared to the country’s need of 125,000 tonnes per month.

He said the fishery sector is one of the important sectors allowed to operate subject to compliance with the SOPs set by the National Security Council (MKN) to ensure the continuity of the economic chain and operators involved.

“Any restriction imposed on the fishery sector could threaten food security as well as increase import dependence, this situation will affect the economy of local fishermen and the entire fish supply chain,” he said.

In the meantime, he said fish landings in Sabah for the first six months this year was 107,000 tonnes which was valued at RM643 million.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

The Northern Indian Recycling Traders Welfare Association (NIRA) has urged the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) to allow recycling traders and plants to operate in Phase Two of the National Recovery Plan.

NIRA president Datuk S. Parthiban said the companies have had to service all the business costs and expenses such as rentals, loan instalments, workers’ salaries and utility bills although the recycling industry has been closed since the full lockdown came into effect last month.

He expressed concern that recycling corporations would not be able to sustain their operating costs if forced to close for a longer period.

“If the lockdown is extended and (companies are) still not allowed to open, we will not be able to pay our employees their salary, face retrenchment or permanently close down our recycling plants,” he told a press conference here today.

According to him, there are around 150 companies involved in the scrap metals and recycling industry in the northern region, with more than 1,500 local employees involved at the management level.

He stressed that since most manufacturing industries were allowed to operate, the scraps and items for recycling generated from the manufacturing process could not be disposed of without the operation of recycling companies.

“In some areas, the items for recycling are stored in open areas, which exposes them to rain and sunlight. This will eventually become a fire hazard,” he said.

He hoped the Federal government would consider reopening the recycling industry as soon as possible.

Earlier today, NIRA launched its charity programme by providing grocery items for needy families, especially those in the B40 group.

Parthiban said the charity programme aimed to reach out to at least 1,000 needy families and would be conducted in three phases.

“Today, we conducted the first phase by providing necessary items to 300 families, followed by another 300 and 400 families in the next two phases,” he added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

— The initiatives of National People’s Well-Being and Economic Recovery Package (PEMULIH) should be channeled to industry practitioners to rehabilitate the country’s tourism and culture industry, said Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.

She said the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (MOTAC) would ensure coordination and monitoring so that the implementation of PEMULIH proceeded on smoothly and that industry practitioners received the benefits of the initiatives.

“MOTAC hopes the initiatives of PEMULIH could be channel quickly to give them a boost to bounce back again and to jointly restore the country’s tourism and culture industry,” she said in statement on PEMULIH initiatives today.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday launched the RM150 billion PEMULIH package including RM10 billion direct fiscal injection to provide assistance to the people.

Among the aid which could benefit the tourism and culture sector through PEMULIH is the extension of the 10 per cent electricity bill discount from October to December 2021 to operators of hotels, theme parks, convention centres shopping centres, local tourism companies as well as travel and tour agencies.

The others were the one-off special assistance of RM3,000 to more than 5,300 tour agencies registered with MOTAC, deferment of tax instalment payment for companies and exemption from tourism tax and service tax for hotel operators until the end of the year.

Nancy said the PEMULIH initiative showed the seriousness of the federal government in ensuring the tourism, arts and culture industry which was affected by the full movement control continued to receive help.

“MOTAC is thankful to the caring government in ensuring all parties in the economic chain get the appropriate assistance,” she said.

Nancy also called on industry practitioners to jointly support the efforts of the government in forming herd immunity to enable the Tourism Rehabilitation Plan to be implemented and succeed in the COVID-19 Free Destination programme.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

Controlled Fresh Markets (PST) under Farmers’ Organisation Authority (LPP) are seen as an effective channel to help its members, who are affected by COVID-19 pandemic, in marketing their produce and solve the oversupply of fresh food products.

LPP director-general Datuk Azulita Salim said there are 27 PST nationwide, with key roles as collection centres for agricultural produce and as platforms for LPP members to sort out their marketing problems.

“The PST operation is in line with its functions and roles as one of the options for consumers to obtain their daily necessities,” she said during a press conference at Kuala Langat LPP here, today.

She said consumers could visit a nearby PST, which is open as early as 7 am until 12 noon, in line with the ongoing Movement Control Order (MCO) 3.0.

According to Azulita, PST also offers online and cash on delivery (COD) service and in the first three weeks of MCO 3.0, the market had recorded transactions worth almost RM5 million.

She said PST also provides transportation to carry agricultural products directly from farms or villages and delivered them straight to a nearby PST, and farmers can sell their produce personally to consumers.

“The PST ensures farmers continue to sell their products and reduce losses due to damaged crops following MCO.

“It can also meet the demand of local resident for basic items without having to be in crowded places, and reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection,” she said.

Among product offered in LPP PST are vegetables, fruits, chicken, fish and sea produce, grocery items as well as agro-based and Peladangku products with five to 20 per cent discount for selected items.

She said LPP plays an important role in ensuring food supply network and chain in Malaysia are stable, sufficient and controlled during MCO, and at the same time overcome the constraint of the country’s food supply chain in term of price and raw ingredients.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

— The Federal Territories Ministry is targeting to vaccinate over 6,000 food delivery riders and 7,000 traders here and in Putrajaya and Labuan next month.

Its minister, Tan Sri Annuar Musa said it was only appropriate that these groups be given priority as they were exposed to risks other than convincing the public who had to deal with them daily.

“Although the food delivery riders generally comprise the young in their 20’s and not a vulnerable group, their work is an essential service too.

“They have to work regardless of the situation including entering the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) areas. The public feels unsafe until they know these people (food riders) have been vaccinated.

“They also have to continue working for a living. If they are not vaccinated they will be demoralised and exposed to the danger, so it is fair to give them priority,” he told a special media conference recently.

He said the ministry would also discuss with the companies providing the delivery service soon to obtain details on the workers.

Annuar said the ministry also gave priority to groups regarded to be at high risk in high-density areas including workers at the Kuala Lumpur Wholesale Market (PBKL), residents of the People’s Housing Projects (PPR), construction workers and the homeless.

“We vaccinate workers at PBKL and PPR residents through the pioneer mobile vaccination truck programme and to date, over 200 homeless people too have been vaccinated,” he added.

Annuar said 50,000 people in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya were expected to be vaccinated per day by next month at 124 vaccine administering centres (PPV) including mobile vaccination trucks serving the PPR and Public Housing areas, traditional villages and centres for the homeless in the federal capital.

He said the vaccination of residents in Kuala Lumpur had now risen from 7,000 doses to 35,789, Putrajaya (1,000 to 1,800) and Labuan (700 to 3,000) per day.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

Controlled fresh markets (PST) nationwide will continue to operate throughout the total lockdown period, said Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Datuk Che Abdullah Mat Nawi.

He said this was to ensure the continuity of the food supply chain to the community as well as to offer essential goods to consumers at cheaper and affordable prices.

He added that the implementation of the PST at several selected locations was also to overcome the problem of dumping of goods as experienced by traders.

“A total of 42 PST are operating nationwide, so far, with each PST having eight core commodities, namely vegetables, fruits, fish, poultry, meat, small and medium industry products, groceries and food (take-away).

“MAFI (Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries) will always take all necessary measures to ensure a smooth food supply chain, among them the production, distribution and retailing of agricultural products and the food industry,” he said in a statement in conjunction with a working visit to a PST here today.

Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob today announced that the Movement Control Order (MCO) 3.0, which is scheduled until Monday (June 14), would be extended for two more weeks until June 28 following the high number of daily COVID-19 cases.

Regarding his visit, Che Abdullah said that through the PST at Agrobazaar Sendayan, consumers were encouraged to buy online through Shopee on behalf of Agrobazaar Sendayan shopkeepers to enjoy the discounts being offered.

He said that apart from Agrobazaar Sendayan, there were three more PST located in Negeri Sembilan, namely the Paroi Permanent Farmers’ Market, Bandar Seri Jempol Permanent Farmers’ Market and Seremban FAMA Operation Centre.

He explained that MAFI, in collaboration with the relevant parties, would continue to ensure that the situation is always under control and there was adequate and stable food supply because the agriculture sector and food industry had been placed as essential services.

He said that in a bid to ensure the smooth running of marketing activities of agricultural products during the total lockdown period, his ministry had set up a Crisis Management Centre that would operate from 8 am to 7 pm.

“Farmers who have problems marketing their agricultural products can access FAMA’s Feedback System portal (http://ffs.fama.gov.my/aduan/index.php) or contact the FAMA hotline at 019-747 6754/013-377 7100/010-763 2684,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency