THE Vibes deserves a salute for its courage. Its report titled “Why are our good veggies going overseas while we eat low-quality, high-priced imports?” demands a national review and immediate answers.
It is not only heart-arresting, but demands a policy statement as 32 million citizens are being put at risk silently.
It demands wide media coverage, too, if there has to be any redemption. I hope even this letter of concern will not be axed because of media patronage or fear of riling up the authorities, or worse, fearing loss of advertising revenue or offending stakeholders.
We need to speak the truth. There is no compromise here.
How can we have our most fundamental right to healthy, affordable food be robbed by those chasing after good money?
The report by The Vibes concerns every single citizen, young and old.
Of course, it will not matter to those who can afford to eat quinoa or caviar. Anyway, how many of us can even afford to dine in five-star hotels even once a year?
When we have to eat low-quality vegetables daily, imported from destinations known for producing fake items with high toxin levels, who do we hold accountable for this crime against citizens?
Mind you, when common vegetables, like carrots, tomatoes, cabbage and spinach, that all of us commoners consume daily are substandard, are we not poisoning and under-nourishing an entire nation?
When we allow our superior-quality farm produce to be exported lock, stock and barrel, and bring in cheap imports from countries that do not have a credible track record, and sell these to citizens in order to make a killing, are we not guilty of putting profits ahead of health and prosperity, at the expense of an entire population’s well-being?
If this is not treason, then pray tell, what is it?
For a long time, local consumer rights bodies have raised concerns about the quality of food in the country. But, they have been silenced by policy vanguards, or paid the lip service of “we are looking into it”.
The ugly truth is made worse by Malaysians themselves, who are also largely indiscriminate, if not ignorant and ill-informed, consumers.
The desperation to eke out a living seems to have numbed their ability to eat discerningly.
Caught in a paradox, consumers have nowhere to turn to.
And now that even Parliament is closed, where do we turn to for emergency redress over our most serious woe: being denied healthy, affordable living?
Who doesn’t know that we have problems across the country with fake and substandard vehicle spare parts? We face issues stemming from a meat cartel. We are losing our precious timber to barons.
Wildlife and the country’s natives are fighting losing battles. We are being quickly robbed of tiny green lungs in cities, in the name of development.
And now, we know that all our precious, quality farm produce is being exported right under our noses, and greedy traders are importing fruits and vegetables of low quality.
It is no small wonder why a pear or tomato overseas smells and tastes so different from what we get at the pasar malam here.
What else will be compromised in this country that keeps screaming of progress and development, decade after decade? How about our humble roti canai and mee goreng? Is the flour used of the worst grade, perhaps only fit for animal fodder?
Can anyone tell?
Forget about constitutional rights. Forget about party politics. When even the food we eat is lowly rated, what do we do? Raise our hands in hopelessness? Just complain and go to bed?
Or, should we buy high-end medical coverage to prepare for serious illnesses in our golden years?
If food quality is not the No. 1 priority, then we are all doomed as a nation. Call it by any name; all else is bluff. – The Vibes, April 14, 2021
J.D. Lovrenciear reads The Vibes
