Hassan Saad (PN-Baling) said it was only appropriate for Putrajaya to provide Kedah an “adequate” fiscal incentive over the use of its land, as it has the widest land for padi plantation in Malaysia.
He added that this was in line with the federal department of town and country planning’s study on the use of land for food resources to safeguard the nation’s food security.
Hassan was debating the 12th Malaysia Plan mid-term review in the Dewan Rakyat.
He also said Kedah is set to increase its output of padi, citing a large-scale padi harvesting programme organised by the Kedah Zakat department as proof of the state’s commitment.
In August, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced an increase in the padi price subsidy scheme (SSHP) rate from RM360 to RM500 per tonne on all padi production.
With the increase, Anwar said padi farmers will receive at least RM1,700 per tonne of the padi they produce, giving them more revenue.
The prime minister said the increase was the biggest in the country’s history, as the subsidy was last raised during his tenure as deputy prime minister “a long time ago”.
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