PUTRAJAYA : The plantation and commodities ministry will embark on a nationwide tour to ensure that every state complies with international standards, including the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
Its minister, Johari Ghani, said he underscored the importance of adhering to the standards, adding that non-compliance could affect the marketability of local agricommodity products at the international level.
“The ministry will visit each state because land issues in each state differ. Land regulations in Sabah, for instance, are not the same as in Kelantan.
Therefore, the states have asked the ministry to conduct a tour and engage with their land offices, to improve their understanding (of the standards), he told reporters after a meeting with state agriculture executive councillors at a hotel in Putrajaya today.
He said the tour, which will be carried out in the near future, will also involve industry players and government agencies so that they better understand the impact of non-compliance with international standards.
“We will do it as soon as possible, with the executive councils acting as coordinators to recommend invitees. We will present information on the EUDR, climate change, and sustainability as, ultimately, this is for the country’s benefit.
We want our products to command a premium in the future, he said.
Thirteen state agriculture exco members attended the meeting with Johari, during which they were provided information on environmental sustainability in the agricommodity sector.
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 12 — DAP’s Datuk Chan Foong Hin said he had not expected his change of ministries under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Cabinet reshuffle today.
Chan said that when the news was announced, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu teased him to say he was trying to find a way out of the ministry.
“It's just that this was a big surprise, so much so that Mohamad Sabu even jokingly asked if I wanted to leave him when we met at Menara LPP after the oral question session at the Dewan Negara.
“I only knew this news through the announcement of the prime minister earlier. However, I say this is not a permanent separation, and I accept this responsibility with an open heart and ready to face any challenge,” he said in a Facebook post today.
Expressing gratitude to Mohamad Sabu for guidance and support during his tenure at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, he said it was a significant learning experience over the past year.
Chan also thanked the ministry’s staff for the cooperation they extended him during his time there.
Chan was made deputy plantation industries and commodities minister in the reshuffle today while Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup will take over as the deputy agriculture and food security minister.
The Cabinet reshuffle resulted in an increase in the number of ministers from 28 to 31, and the number of deputy ministers expanded from 27 to 29. This adjustment brings the total number of Cabinet members to 60.
PUTRAJAYA: Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani stressed the critical role of a robust tax system in preventing government debt escalation and ensuring long-term financial stability.
Johari, who was also the former second finance minister, said the government had to take drastic measures to prevent such debt situations that could impact future generations.
He said there were quarters who cut corners to evade taxes.
He emphasised the need to boost government revenue while maintaining fairness for all taxpayers.
"However, it must be fair to those who diligently comply with the tax system.
"Government agencies are involved in tax collection but the revenue is not for us, but for the country and future generations," he said during a dialogue session at the Public Services Department's peer guides' Madani Aspirations gathering today.
He said government initiatives could not be sustained if it relied on debts.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was reported as saying that Malaysia managed to curb its debt growth last year, with the increase in debt slowing to 8.6 per cent from 10.2 per cent in 2022.
The total federal government debt for 2023 stood at RM1,172.5 billion, accounting for 64.3 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP), compared with RM1,079.6 billion or 60.3 per cent of GDP in 2022.
KUALA LUMPUR (March 18): The mandatory general offer (MGO) by JAG Capital Holdings Bhd for KUB Malaysia Bhd, at 60 sen per share, has seen it obtain 163.82 million shares, equivalent to a 29.44% stake, in KUB.
This has bumped up JAG’s shareholding in KUB to 62.72% or 349 million shares, according to a statement issued by Maybank Investment Bank, on behalf of JAG.
JAG said in the circular to shareholders that it does not intend to keep KUB’s listing status if it secures 90% of all KUB shares, but would keep KUB listed if it secures between 75% and 90%.
JAG is controlled by Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, who holds a 98.75% stake in the company.
On Jan 9, 2024, JAG was obliged to make an MGO for KUB after it had bought 1.79 million KUB shares on the open market, which raised its shareholding in the listed entity to 33.28%.
Prior to that, KUB proposed a related party transaction to buy a 86.65% stake in cables and wire manufacturer Central Cables Bhd (CCB) from its major shareholder JAG for RM119.42 million, by issuing redeemable convertible preference shares.
Shares of KUB have traded largely range-bound between 50 sen and 60 sen in the last two years. On Monday, the counter closed one sen or 1.7% lower at 58.5 sen, valuing it at RM326 million.
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor's visit to Shenzhen in China last year drew a crowd of 1,024 visitors to the state.
Dubbed as the 44th International Tea Gathering, the event, organised by Hangjia Tea-dao Research Society, saw representatives from China, Taiwan, the United States, and more.
The person in charge of the event, Datuk Lee Jack Son, said that the entourage came to Sabah for the cultural exchange and to explore the state.
"This initiative stemmed from the Chief Minister's visit to Shenzhen in November last year. His visit triggered the community to visit Sabah," he told the media at a hotel last night.
Their itinerary, which began on Saturday and will continue until next Thursday, includes exploring tea and the mountains in Ranau, Mantanani Island in Kota Belud, and Tunku Abdul Rahman Park in Kota Kinabalu.
Lee also suggested that the trip might open up commercialisation opportunities, especially if the group could blend tea from Sabah with those from China.
Deputy Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin and Hangjia Tea-Dao Research Society President Ho Tsai Ping, were present at the event.
Chan, who also serves as Kota Kinabalu member of parliament, highlighted that the entourage of tea enthusiasts is making a significant contribution to Sabah's tourism industry.
"This is the third time the group has visited Malaysia. Previously, they had programmes in Kuala Lumpur and Penang.
"Initially, they planned to visit Bali, but they chose Sabah instead. If each visitor spends RM3,000 during their trip here, this program definitely demonstrates great potential for tourism."
Regarding the international tea festival held last night, Chan expressed that it was eye-opening, as he had never witnessed an event where thousands of people drink tea together.
He also added that in Malaysia, the tea-drinking culture, such as teh tarik, kopitiam, and the afternoon tea lifestyle, is influenced by people of various racial backgrounds.