ALOR STAR: The state government should prove its seriousness in preserving Kedah's role as the nation rice bowl by gazetting the padi fields in Muda Agriculture Development Authority (Mada) before seeking RM200 million compensation from the federal government.
Mada chairman Datuk Dr Ismail Salleh said only by doing so, the federal government would be convinced that Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor's administration is serious in boosting the nation rice production.
"It seems in seeking the RM200 million (compensation) from the federal government, Kedah is not serious because the state government is seen as not ready to gazette Mada padi cultivation areas.
"If the state government is serious, it should proceed with the gazetting and works towards seeking the carbon credit compensation.
"The federal government will also be convinced with the seriousness of the state government in boosting padi yield for the sake of food security," he said in a statement today.
Therefore, Dr Ismail has brushed off Sanusi's claims that Kedah being forced to remain as a poor state because it has to continue producing padi for the country.
He stressed that the Mada padi cultivation areas only cover 10 per cent of the whole Kedah land.
"It seems Kedah MB is still unable to move on regarding the state revenue.
"He said Kedah is being forced to become a poor state because it has to sacrifice for padi production… the MB keeps going on and on with his negative thinking.
"The Mada padi cultivation area is only made 10 per cent of Kedah land area, there are 90 per cent land remaining for housing and industry which would yield higher revenue (for the state government).
"It seems Kedah has hit a dead end to seek other source of revenues," he said.
Dr Ismail was responding to Sanusi's statement yesterday justifying the state government move to seek RM200 million annual compensation to the federal government to preserve padi fields in the state.
Sanusi was reported as saying that the demand is a reasonable request given its key contribution to the country's food security.
He had said the amount was based on losses of potential revenue for forgoing demands of developing padi fields for industrial, commercial and housing purposes under the local governments' District Development Plan (RTD).
Sanusi also said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has agreed for the request to be studied when it was presented to him during the state development briefing session during his recent visit to Kedah on April 4.