Providing food security to S’pore a boon, not bane, for M’sia: Anwar

SINGAPORE – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has clarified that providing a food security blanket to Singapore does not mean that Malaysia will be exporting food to the city state while jeopardising its own position.

Speaking to the press at the tail end of his one-day official visit here today, the prime minister explained that what he meant was the potential cooperation to increase food production for Malaysia.

“I did not suggest we export to Singapore. I just said it’s incumbent for both countries to look at the possibility of collaborating in increasing food production. It can be a major Singapore investment which will meet both our requirements and theirs.

“Currently, our imports have exceeded RM65 to RM70 billion (a year), so we need massive investments – be it domestic and foreign – which includes Singapore because they are our immediate neighbour,” said Anwar.

Earlier, when he toasted Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Anwar had mentioned that Malaysia can become the rice bowl for Singapore. 

The Tambun MP is on his first official visit to the island nation and was accompanied by his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and a delegation of officials including Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir, Transport Minister Anthony Loke, International Trade and Industries Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil, Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg, and Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi among others. – The Vibes, January 30, 2023