Focus on manufacturing led to neglect of agricultural sector, says economist

[superadmin]

PETALING JAYA: The recent, although minor, threat to food security is a result of the previous administration’s “enthusiasm” to transform Malaysia into a “manufacturing nation”, says an economist.

Madeline Berma of Institut Masa Depan Malaysia (Masa) said this shift of focus has resulted in the marginalisation of agriculture, now starkly apparent as the majority of food resources are imported from abroad.

It was recently reported that the annual value of food imports into the country has surged to RM62 billion, up from RM48 billion the year before, because of rising demand and foreign exchange considerations.

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