Malaysia looks to Thailand, Japan for year-round fruit production
Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu highlighted ongoing efforts by the Department of Agriculture (DOA) and the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) to develop new seed varieties.
'We are carrying out R\&D, especially by DOA and MARDI, to produce new seeds and so on. The MARDI durian, for example, was produced recently in Kuala Kangsar. Delicious. High quality,' he said during the launch of the National Campaign to Eat More Local Fruits and Vegetables.
The event also marked the closing of FAMA Fest 2025 in Selangor.
Mohamad stressed the government's commitment to promoting local fruits, including a mandate for official functions to serve only Malaysian-grown produce.
'During my visit to Thailand as the Minister of Defence, I was served food based on local fruits and vegetables throughout my time there. The same goes for Japan, almost 100 per cent local,' he added.
Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA) chairman Aminuddin Zulkipli reported strong results from FAMA Fest, with sales exceeding RM800,000 from 50 entrepreneurs and over 40,000 visitors.
Since 2017, the event has driven economic growth for agri-entrepreneurs, with 2024 figures reaching RM8.8 million nationwide. – Bernama
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
24 minutes ago
- The Star
Boosting investor sentiment
PETALING JAYA: As Malaysia gears up to roll out a new investment incentive framework (NIIF) this year, economists believe the country must double down on administrative efficiency and investor support to stand out as a preferred investment destination in an increasingly competitive region. They said that the missing link may no longer be in the policies – but in ensuring the operating environment is truly conducive. Sunway University economics professor Yeah Kim Leng, who also serves as one of five advisers in the Policy Advisory Committee to the prime minister, said that having an attractive investment environment is no longer sufficient. 'We know there are general requirements for creating an attractive investment environment that encourages and fosters investor confidence. 'But that's not enough – confidence also depends on having a conducive operating environment,' Yeah told StarBiz. He said this includes ease of doing business, faster clearance and 'an efficient operating environment that allows them to operate in a more efficient and competitive manner at the lowest possible cost'. While Malaysia has made strides in improving its business environment, Yeah believes further regulatory and legal reforms – particularly at the operational and startup levels – are needed to boost investor sentiment. 'Support should not be limited to financial assistance, but also in terms of administrative and regulatory requirements,' he said. 'We must show our superior hand-holding strategies so that investors are comfortable and can implement their projects quickly.' Despite global headwinds, Malaysia continued to record strong investment numbers. In 2024, the country achieved a record RM378.5bil in approved investments, up 14.9% year-on-year – with domestic investments (DI) making up 55% or RM208.1bil, while foreign investments (FI) accounted for RM170.4bil. The momentum has continued this year. In the first quarter (1Q25) alone, Malaysia secured RM89.8bil in approved investments, up 3.7% from the same period last year – with FI contributing RM60.4bil or 67.3% of total investments, while DI accounted for RM29.4bil or 32.7%. Notably, RM48bil – or 53.4% – of total investments in 1Q25 aligned with focus sectors under the National Investment Aspirations, which prioritise economic complexity, high-value jobs, environmental, social and governance (ESG) adoption and strong domestic linkages. As of June 10, the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) was managing a pipeline of proposed projects worth RM48.5bil, alongside another RM59.3bil in potential leads currently under negotiation. On these fronts, Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said the government should examine how well existing tools and support mechanisms are being utilised. 'I suppose we need to go back to the basic question – in light of the existing free trade agreements, what is the utilisation rate among Malaysian firms? Similarly, given all the government assistance which can take the form of grants, microfinancing, tax deductions etc, how much has been utilised,' he questioned. 'If the answer is low, then the government needs to find ways on how the utilisation can be improved.' Mohd Afzanizam also stressed the importance of a smooth experience when navigating government processes. 'At the end of the day, it is about a pleasant experience, especially when dealing with the various levels of government agencies.' He noted that the investment ecosystem spans federal and state authorities, investment promotion agencies and local councils – all of which must coordinate to reduce bureaucratic friction. 'This would mean that the degree of bureaucracy can be quite complicated and therefore, addressing such issues would make the country stand out from the rest of the pack.' Meanwhile, Yeah added that Malaysia could take a leaf out of Singapore's book, especially in terms of administrative efficiency. 'That efficiency, including fast approval and easy access to resolving investors' problems, make up part of the success story of Singapore being able to attract nearly 60% of the total foreign direct investment or FDI inflow into the Asean region.' Commenting on the upcoming NIIF – a new investment incentive structure set to be implemented in 3Q25 – Yeah said that while there is not much information yet, it is expected to enhance Malaysia's competitiveness by aligning incentives with investors' expectations. Still, he believes other key investors' concerns, such as the shortage of skilled labour, must also be addressed. 'There must be a programme to provide win-win solutions for both the government and investors. We can actually focus on fostering greater industry collaboration to provide specialised training,' he said. In the case of the semiconductor industry, for instance, he suggested Malaysia could consider a temporary freeze on foreign talent while ramping up local talent development. The country recently climbed 11 spots to 23rd place in the 2025 World Competitiveness Ranking – its best ranking since 2020, up from 34th last year. The annual report, published by the Switzerland-based Institute for Management Development, evaluates countries based on their ability to create and sustain a business-friendly environment that fosters long-term prosperity. Under the Madani Economy framework, Malaysia is aiming to break into the world's top-12 most competitive economies by 2033. The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) recently reaffirmed in Parliament its commitment to attracting high-quality investments that align with Malaysia's long-term economic objectives. Together with Mida, Miti said global trade uncertainties call for effective strategies to keep Malaysia attractive to investors and stimulate private investment. 'The government prioritises quality investments that will enhance economic complexity, create high-value jobs for Malaysians, expand domestic linkages, develop new economic clusters and strengthen existing ones, improve inclusivity, and support the ESG agenda.' Miti said the upcoming NIIF, set to be implemented in 3Q25, marks a shift from the current practice of offering incentives based on specific products or activities. 'The NIIF will introduce a new evaluation mechanism for incentive offerings to ensure that better incentives are awarded to high-quality investments,' it said.
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Strong 2Q performance forecast for Guan Chong
PETALING JAYA: A higher powder ratio, discounted bean price differential versus a premium last year, a potential return of contango market structure and lower interest rates continues to support Guan Chong Bhd 's margins despite the declining cocoa butter ratios. Contango refers to when the futures price of cocoa beans is higher than the spot price. 'The healthy combined ratios realised in the first quarter of this year (1Q25) are expected to continue into 2Q25 before normalising in 2026, a scenario already reflected in our forecasts. 'Nonetheless, we believe combined ratios and margins will likely remain at an elevated level relative to previous years, underpinned by sustained demand, higher working capital, risk premiums and industry consolidation,' RHB Research said. It pointed out that cocoa butter ratios have declined from six months ago due to improved bean availability and tariff-induced caution. Even so, the research house said cocoa butter ratios remain elevated relative to historical norms. Further, there were also slower grindings due to high prices and tariff-related uncertainties. 'Bloomberg reports that European cocoa grindings have declined for four consecutive quarters, down by 5% year-on-year (y-o-y), while Malaysian grindings fell 22% y-o-y in 2Q25. 'This reflects changes in product formulations, reduced pack sizes and substitution with alternative ingredients amid elevated bean prices and ongoing tariff uncertainties,' RHB Research said. The research house noted that these dynamics have tightened the supply of cocoa powder, which remains expensive but fails to incentivise higher grindings due to substantial working capital requirements and volatile market conditions. 'Consequently, Guan Chong's overall utilisation rate could ease to between 85% and 90% in the second half of this year, as its US customers, which account for 15% of revenue, adopt a wait-and-see approach on tariff uncertainties,' RHB Research said. On a positive note, the research house said the reduction in production could improve working capital efficiency and cash flow. However, management has observed improving sales trends at more moderate bean prices and expects a rise in spot buying closer to the seasonal peak season in late 3Q to early 4Q, as customers move to secure their positions. RHB Research said it believes Guan Chong's recent share price correction is overdone, despite expectations of slowing global demand and a softer cocoa butter ratio. This is considering the prospect of record-high FY25 forecast earnings backed by robust margins. 'We expect a stronger quarter-on-quarter performance in 2Q, backed by healthy combined ratios,' it said. RHB Research maintained a 'buy' call on Guan Chong with a target price of RM2.58, from RM3, and pegged it to an unchanged 15 times FY26 price-earnings multiple, on par with the consumer product index.
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Harn Len declares special dividend after strong 4Q
Harn Len's fourth-quarter net profit surged to RM22.5mil. PETALING JAYA: Harn Len Corp Bhd remains cautious and is actively formulating strategies to safeguard its business operations. The plantation group said these include enhancing efficiency and implementing cost rationalisation measures to mitigate potential negative impacts. Harn Len said crude palm oil (CPO) prices are currently hovering between RM3,900 and RM4,100 per tonne. 'A surge in soybean oil prices and high demand from India will help to support CPO prices, where the average CPO price for the year is forecast to remain above RM4,000 per tonne,' the company added. In its fourth quarter ended May 31, Harn Len's net profit surged to RM22.5mil, or earnings per share of 3.68 sen, from RM1.5mil or 0.27 sen, a year ago. This brought its full-year profit to RM33.4mil, or 5.75 sen. Quarterly revenue rose 39.3% to RM70.9mil from RM50.9mil, lifting full-year revenue to RM283.2mil. It declared a special dividend of three sen per share for its financial year ended May 31.
