"The Chief Minister of the northern Malaysian state of Kedah is clear about his immediate priority for the state - to save nearly 16,000 square metres (4,000 acres) of rice fields by relocating a major oil refinery project. For Kedah's new Chief Minister Ustaz Azizan, it is business as usual in the state despite the change of government. Besides meeting visitors to discuss investment opportunities, his top priority is to fulfill the promises made in the party's election manifesto. One of them was to move a multi-billion dollar oil refinery project, which was to have been built on rice fields, to the offshore area.
Ustaz Azizan said he would like to protect the livelihood of paddy farmers. He also wants to place greater emphasis on food security in the state and the whole of Malaysia. He said he managed to get the investors, who had already spent money on initial work, to agree to move the project to an offshore area. He added that though the cost of the mega project now has gone up from 16 billion US dollars to 25 billion US dollars, the investors have agreed to move it away from the rice fields."
Kedah is the 'rice bowl' of Malaysia. I feel its rice fields should continue to be reaped as rice field especially at this time of rice shortage problem.
Don't get me wrong, we Malaysian are not in for development or having multibillion dollars project. But it is a question of time and priority now and not a question who is holding the sticks of authority.
My inner-voice still probes - Is saying 'yes' to rice field, and 'no' to multibillion dollars project the answer to our rice shortage?? OR are we protecting or jeopardising the likelihood of out paddy farmers??
Another good news I heard from Radio Thailand International on 8th May 2008, and Radio Singapore International on 10th May 2008 that says the PM of Thiland has agreed to sell 500,000 tons of rice to Malaysia (we have already received 200,000 tons, another 300,000 will be delivered soon). This helps to stabilize our rice stock and is a relief to us - Malaysian.
Bravo to our Thai neighbours!
