Wednesday, November 10, 2010

China complains about 2 M’sian bird’s nest factories using dangerous chemicals

SEREMBAN: Two swiftlet nest processing factories have been using dangerous chemicals to make the nests look reddish so that it can be categorised as top quality.

However, China, the main importer of the nests, spotted the bid by the factories to cheat buyers and filed a complaint with Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry, according to the ministry’s deputy minister Chua Tee Yong.

He said the factories have been ordered to stop operations and action would soon be taken over the use of the chemical, which could cause cancer.

Speaking to reporters after opening a course on swiftlet farming here Saturday, he also said that a guideline on swiftlet farming would be introduced this year to facilitate regulation by authorities on the industry.

He said there were about 6,000 swiftlet farming operators registered with the ministry, but believed the actual number of operators involved was twice the number. – Bernama 23 Oct 2010

蔡智勇:提高稻米生產量‧2億重整灌溉系統建水壩

(彭亨‧雲頂30日訊)農業及農基工業部副部長蔡智勇說,該部將落實多方面的計劃,包括興建水壩和重整稻米生產區灌溉系統,以提高國內稻米生產量。

12億作津貼用途

他說,在這次的財政預算案中,政府將撥出2億2千500萬令吉在吉打稻米區全面規劃灌溉和排水系統,同時撥出1億5千萬令吉在登嘉樓興建水壩,加強稻米的水供需求。

蔡智勇今晚出席大馬米糧批發商公會33週年紀念暨國稻聯營簽約十週年紀念晚宴上致詞時說,政府考量到國內的稻米有必要進一步提高產量,因此通過多項計劃落實。
他指出,財政預算案中另外一項撥款為12億令吉,作為國內米糧及價格的津貼用途,確保供應順暢,尤其是讓赤貧的一群能夠買到價格低廉的白米。

他希望國家稻米和大馬米糧批發商繼續密切合作,為國家米糧市場的穩定作出貢獻。

吳子聯:建議未被接納

落實碎米津貼問題叢生

大馬米糧批發商公會會長吳子聯說,政府提供15%的碎米津貼原本是協助貧窮一群,但是發現落實方式不夠完善,導致問題叢生。

他吁請政府關注這項問題,尋找適合的途徑解決,否則政府發出的龐大津貼最終“不翼而飛”。

他說,公會曾經多次提呈建議給農業部和貿消部,但是所提出的發放津貼建議沒有被接納,他希望蔡智勇擔任農業及農基工業部副部長後,對這項課題深入瞭解,並一起尋求解決方案。

峇克里:合作10年見成果

國家稻米局貿易風集團董事經理峇克里說,國稻和大馬米糧批發商公會建立合作關係已經達10年。

他說,雙方在建立密切合作付出很大的努力,目前已經看到成果,並且希望今後能夠繼續打造新的合作基礎。



星洲日報‧2010.10.31