KUALA LUMPUR – Deputy Agriculture and Food Industries Minister I Datuk Seri Ahmad Hamzah revealed to the Dewan Rakyat a new genetically engineered paddy variety named after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Dubbed IS-21, Ahmad said this variety was created by the Science, Technology, and Innovation Ministry (Mosti) using nuclear technology.
“The origin of IS-21 can be traced back to the MR219 paddy variety created by the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute.
“This MR219 paddy was then treated using gamma rays at Mosti, and the outcome was the IS-21 paddy variety that we named after the prime minister,” Ahmad said in Parliament today.
This prompted former Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said to cynically ask if eating that version of paddy is akin to eating the prime minister himself.
It is understood that Azalina was making fun of Rusnah Aluai (Tangga Batu-PH), who previously drew controversy when she said drinking Timah whiskey is similar to consuming a Malay woman.
Ahmad also took the opportunity to explain the features noted in the IS-21 variety, which seems to be focused on surviving any conditions.
He suggested that the IS-21 variety is able to grow in any environment, and is suitable for almost all types of soil – besides being immune to most diseases.
Meanwhile, regarding Malaysia’s rice and paddy stockpiles for this year, Ahmad said it currently stands at 250,000 metric tonnes, with 600,000 metric tonnes in circulation.
However, he said the ministry is aiming to increase paddy stockpiles to 290,000 metric tonnes by 2023 to ensure the nation’s food supplies are at sufficient levels. – The Vibes, November 25, 2021
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