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Enhancing resilience to demographic changes and climate impacts while ensuring food security
P22 Kuala Lumpur Declaration and ASEAN 2045 The Kuala Lumpur Declaration marks a transformative step in ASEAN’ s journey towards greater unity and cooperation among its ten-member states
P24 | INDUSTRY Smart soil, smarter yields B. A. S. E. integrates soil science, biotechnology, and tailored fertiliser use, designed to adapt to Malaysian soil conditions and reduce long-term production costs.
P26-27 | COLUMN Pectin: A promising gelatin alternative Derived from fruit waste like apple pomace and citrus or dragon fruit peels, pectin is safe, plant-based, and free from religious restrictions- making it an ideal substitute for gelatin in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.
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IMPORTED fruits are about to get more expensive. So will eggs— eventually.
The government’ s recent announcement to impose a five per cent Sales and Services Tax( SST) on imported fruits and premium seafood has drawn mixed reactions.
On paper, these changes may seem reasonable— cutting subsidies saves the government money, and imported fruits seem like a luxury anyway. However, on the ground, these changes are already making it harder for people to manage their groceries, especially those from lower-income groups.
Imported fruits aren’ t always a treat— sometimes, they’ re the only available option when local fruits are out of season or hard to find. Adding a five per cent tax might not sound like much, but prices are already high, and this will only make fresh produce even more out of reach for some.
As for eggs, they’ re one of the cheapest and most important protein sources for many families. Even if the price goes up by just a few cents, that still makes a difference for households watching every ringgit.
This isn’ t just a financial issue— it’ s about ensuring people can still eat healthy, balanced meals. If the government wants to cut subsidies or raise taxes, that’ s one thing. However, they also need to ensure that local farmers receive the necessary support to increase their production and that prices don’ t spiral out of control.
Food policy isn’ t something that should be handled lightly. Once prices rise, it’ s challenging to bring them back down. And when basic items like eggs and fruit become too expensive, it’ s everyday people— not policymakers— who feel the impact first. We agree reforms are needed. But they need to be done carefully, with the community’ s wellbeing at the centre. Food isn’ t just a business. It’ s a fundamental right— and any decision that affects our meals should reflect that.
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