‘KEDAH SHOULD DEMAND RICE ROYALTIES’

It will commensurate with state’s status as rice bowl of the nation, says Umno member

KEDAH has been urged to continue calling for “royalties” for its rice production, much like the oil royalties being paid to certain states.

Kedah Umno Youth information chief Syed Mohd Johan Rizal Syed Unan Mashri said the state had “sacrificed” much to supply the entire country with rice and such “royalties” would commensurate with the state’s status as the rice bowl of the nation.

He said the Federal Government should appreciate Kedah, which has 115,000ha of padi fields, and acknowledge the state as a strategic member of the nation.

Syed Johan Rizal said this was especially taking into account that Kedah maintained more than 300,000ha of reserved forests in Pedu and Ulu Muda to ensure enough potable water was channelled to itself, Penang and Perlis.

He said the state had to sacrifice much to maintain the padi fields, forests and water resources, not just for itself but also for its neighbours, something which had put a strain on its economic resources.

“I followed with great interest the debate in the Dewan Rakyat about oil royalties, claimed by states such as Kelantan and Sabah, which produce the commodity.

“From these debates, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has made the commitment to payment of 20 per cent in royalties.

“Watching the debates has led me to the conclusion that Kedah needs to continue pushing for compensation like royalties as the state has sacrificed much for the country.”

Syed Johan Rizal said the issue of compensation had been raised before by former menteris besar, such as Datuk Seri Syed Razak Syed Zain and Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah, so Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir should do the same.

“Since 2001, there has been an agreement in principle at the Federal cabinet level for compensation to be paid to Kedah, but the amount has yet to be determined and has never been executed.

“As such, Kedah lost an estimated RM100 million to RM150 million every year.”

Mukhriz, said Syed Johan Rizal, should view the matter seriously to ensure that the state get fair compensation.

He called on Mukhriz to table a motion in Parliament for the royalties to be debated. “Any compensation we get could be used for the good of the people, especially for farmers, the education sector and religious purposes,” he said.

Watching the debates has led me to the conclusion that Kedah needs to continue pushing for compensation like royalties... SYED MOHD JOHAN RIZAL SYED UNAN MASHRI

Kedah Umno Youth information chief