Media Statement by M. Kula Segaran, MP for Ipoh
Barat and DAP National Vice Chairman at Batu Gajah, Perak on 12th
May, 2012
Encourage and help the growth of local
farmers
Over 27 farmers who are involved in animal husbandry business were encouraged to
relocate to an area at Mukim Terap, Batu Gajah over 3 years ago. The farmers
were told the land belong to State Agriculture Development Corporation (SADC).
All these farmers are involved in animal husbandry
business on full time basis and therefore have ample experience and exposure in
this field.
They were told by Veterinary Department officials of
the Agriculture office that each participant would be given an average of 5
acres of land. Many of these farmers took loans, mortgaged their properties and
even sold their houses to develop this area.
Infrastructure works and the like were commonly
built with the monies of the farmers. Many of the farmers spent over
thousands of Ringgit to clear and build sheds and the like to rear cattles at
the above said area.
Why DRSB?
Sometime in March 2012, the SADC officials told
the farmers that Dagang Ritz Sdn Bhd (DRSB) has been given the exclusive right
over all the 74.4hectares of land in this area. Thus the farmers will
have to rent from DRSB. The monthly rental amounts to an average of RM1000 and
this is for a period of 3 years, namely from 1stJanuary11 to
31stDecember2013.
These farmers have all relocated to this new place
at Batu Gajah from various parts of Perak. They have built permanent
infrastructure which cost thousands of Ringgit and to give a tenancy for 3
years is unreasonable and unfair. Animal Husbandry business takes many years
before one can see profits. To give such a short tenancy is ridiculous. The
farmers can’t even get bank loans to finance their businesses.
The farmers are shocked by this new offer and
arrangement. They want the following explanations:
1) Who is this DRSB?
2) Why should the farmers deal
through them?
3) Is the Perak SADC in the Ali
Baba business?
To the best of every one’s knowledge, DRSB has no expertise, knowhow and
knowledge in animal husbandry businesses. Why SADC has to choose DRSB? SADC owes
a detaiedl explanation to the farmers and the people of Perak.
DRSB does not possess any track record for SADC to
make them as the middle man.
The question everyone wants to know is why SADC
itself can’t rent this place to the farmers directly?
Policy of Federal Government overlooked
It is a policy of the federal government to
encourage the growth of animal husbandry business.
As set out above, the SADC, an arm of the state Government is going
against the policy by bleeding the farmers and making it difficult for the
farmers to do their business.
The Federal Government policy of saving billions
of ringgit with the growth of local husbandry business will be thwarted if the above unfriendly business
terms are imposed on farmers.
The above farmers receive no assistance
financially from the State Government yet they are willing to do business
independently. Best to encourage this form of business as it will spur the
growth and prosperity of animal husbandry business. Why throw millions like on
the National Feed Lot where RM250 million was given by the government with
little or no returns for the Government and the people of Malaysia?
Perak GLC need a new breather
Last year in November, Mentri Besar Datuk Zambri
openly stated that “Perak was to restructure all state GLC’s”.
On SADC, he had said, “SADC will be headed by a chief
executive to carry out the restructuring under which SADC's operations will be
divided into two sections – services and corporate affairs – each to be headed
by a general manager”
It is already over 6 months since the MB’s
announcement. We do not see any new blood or changes in SADC.
Many of the Perak GLC’s are not properly managed
and are running at a loss. People of Perak want changes in the GLC’s so that
they can be the catalyst in the development of Perak. When will these changes
if at all they happen?
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