Overcome Hardcore Poverty By Developing Agriculture Sector - Dr Khir

KUALA LUMPUR, May 3 (Bernama) -- A mega project in the form of agricultural infrastructure should be developed in Sabah as a means to overcome hardcore poverty, said Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo.
The former Selangor menteri besar said the available infrastructure in Sabah needed to be identified so that it could be used as a catalyst to develop agricultural activities in the state.
This, he said, could help increase productivity and improve the standard of living.
"The current poverty will become more severe the next time there is an increase in the price of essential food items like rice, sugar and flour.
"Sabah is only able to produce 30 per cent of its population's rice consumption.
"With the increase of between 40 and 50 per cent on the cost of rice, its hardcore poor would have to severely cut down on their intake," said Dr Mohd Khir in his blog entry at www.drkhir.com
The Umno Supreme Council member, who visited Sabah recently, noted that the irrigation systems in the Kota Belud padi fields left a lot to be desired as compared to the Barat Laut project in Selangor.
Dr Mohd Khir, who was a government dentist in Sandakan (Sabah) from 1990-1991, said although the people of Sabah were hardworking, they were unable to increase their agricultural produce and income because the current infrastructure was unsuitable.

tunku : i think the government should really concentrate in developing these two states more actively. sabah and sarawak can be the new economy growth area for malaysia.it can produce enough food supply for malaysia and even can export them.the only problem is the lack of infrastructure facilities which needed very badly.