PENDANG: The state government will pursue efforts to seek the federal government's approval to export ketum to Thailand to elevate the people's economy.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said he was confident that the approval could be achieved if the people were to give their mandate to Perikatan Nasional (PN) in the 15th General Election (GE15).
"InsyaAllah, our 10th Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will look into this matter and we will work until we succeed.
"I am sure that this matter will be given due consideration by the next federal government.
"We are a poor state. If you sell ketum here you will only get RM30 per kg, but if it is smuggled to Thailand, it can go as high as RM150 per kg.
"That is why we want to allow the export of ketum (legally). We almost secured the approval, but unfortunately the Parliament was dissolved.
"Otherwise, the people (who plant ketum) in Pendang will become millionaires," he said after a PN rally here last night, which was attended by PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Sanusi, who is also state PN chairman added that it would be wiser for the government to legalise ketum export instead of the plant being misused by the local people.
"If we export the plant, they (Thailand) will be processed into medicine, nutritious drinks and various other things since they have the technology to produce health products.
Sanusi said should the federal government agree to legalise ketum export, the state would propose for the export to be entrusted to a state government subsidiary so that it could be better controlled.
"Not only the people of Pendang can become millionaires, the people in Sik and Padang Terap can also be rich. But whoever has yet to plant ketum trees, don't plant yet; wait first (for the approval)," he said.
Last March, it was reported that the federal government was considering allowing Kedah to export ketum to Thailand legally.
Sanusi was reported as saying the process of exporting the material however required certain rules so that it could be done properly and complies with existing rules.