MB: Perak to create jobs in agricultural sector

IPOH: Those who lost jobs during the movement control order (MCO) will be offered work in the agriculture sector, said Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu.

He said the state planned to open up more land for agriculture as it could create jobs.

“About 2,000 Perakians lost their jobs during the MCO. Even before the pandemic began, we had planned to do more in the agriculture sector.

“During the MCO, I noticed how important it is to have food security. More plans will be drafted, including for urban farming in bigger cities like Ipoh, Taiping and Kampar,” he told reporters at the state secretariat building here yesterday.

On another matter, he said the state government chose a Selangorbased company to manage solid waste in Perak based on its long experience.

He was responding to state Opposition leader Dr Abdul Aziz Bari’s Facebook post that questioned the state government’s decision to opt for the Selangor-based company without open tender.

“A state-owned company will be working with them,” he said, adding that the company was chosen when Selangor was under Pakatan Harapan rule in 2019.

“I find it weird that the state Pakatan is questioning the decision when it was made last year when I was mentri besar.

“My friends in Pakatan should relook the decisions we made together before, including this one.

“The state Perikatan Nasional government is just continuing what they had started,” he said, referring to Pakatan.