ALOR SETAR, June 10- Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Mukhriz Tun Mahathir has given the MCA six months to name a candidate for the vacant State Executive Council (Exco) post.
“We can only wait for another three to six months because after that, we have to make a decision,” he told reporters after receiving a courtesy call by Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob at Wisma Darul Aman here today.
He was commenting on a statement by MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek that the decision to reject government posts at state and federal levels could be invalidated by an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) before the annual general meeting (AGM) at year end.
Mukhriz is holding the post of Chairman of Environment, Chinese Community Affairs, Health and Unity Committee reserved for the MCA representative.
In the 13th general election (GE13), the MCA won two of the four state seats contested in Kedah.
On his meeting with Ismail Sabri, Mukhriz said since agriculture is an important sector in Kedah, many things were discussed to boost the state’s economy.
“We have proposed that padi land deemed unimportant to be used for industrial development. Land close to the city is of high value and should be used for economic activities.”
He said this matter should be discussed in depth by the Agriculture Ministry and the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada).
Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri said the padi land mentioned include areas with sinkholes which require a large allocation to rehabilitate.
“About 8,000 hectares of sinkholes can’t be used in Mada Kedah/Perlis and RM50 million is needed to drain the water and strengthen the soil structure.
“The areas cannot be cultivated for two seasons and the farmers may have to be compensated. Among the options available is to switch to other crops, but Kedah farmers are sentimental when it comes to padi and don’t want to change.”
-BERNAMA
