ALOR STAR: Kedah is still hopeful that the federal government will approve its proposal to legalise the export of ketum as mooted by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor two years ago.
State Agriculture, Plantation and Transportation Committee chairman Dzowahir Ab. Ghani said the matter was raised during a meeting with Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani recently.
The Perikatan Nasional Suka Menanti assemblyman said it was high time the export of ketum is allowed, given its huge potential in the international market as a medical product.
"Recently, agriculture exco chairmen from all states had a meeting with the Plantation and Commodities Minister.
"The matter (a proposal to legalise ketum exports) was raised once again, and the minister has taken note and InshaaAllah will be discussed in detail to allow ketum cultivation to generate income," he said in response to a question by PN-Derga assemblyman Muhamad Amri Wahab at the state legislative assembly in Wisma Darul Aman here today.
Dzowahir added that the country should tap ketum's huge potential in the international market by legalising its export.
"We are aware that the market is huge. For example, in Germany, there is a medical product named kratom, and on the bottle it is written as a Malay product.
"Therefore, I take this opportunity to express hope that the federal government will take the ketum potential seriously to be cultivated under proper control.
"It will not just create a huge economic benefit but also a source of medicine for the people," he said.
In March 2022, Sanusi urged the Perikatan Nasional to consider legalising ketum exports due to high demand from a neighbouring country.
He had said the production of ketum could be developed into a lucrative industry, with the federal government standing to benefit from doing so by imposing export duties on the plant.
However, Sanusi stressed that the state government would not condone the abuse of ketum by mixing it with banned substances.
In May 2022, the State Economic Planning Division completed its proposal to seek federal approval to legalise the export of ketum.
In April 2023, former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin proposed that the government study the prospect of allowing for the export of ketum to countries where consumption of the substance is legal.
The former Rembau member of parliament said exporting ketum leaves to countries such as the United States, which he claimed had a billion-dollar ketum industry, could help the government in generating much-needed revenue.
He also suggested the government set up a ketum board to ensure that locally-produced ketum by smallholders is regulated and cultivated for export purposes only.