KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 2): Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today questioned the rationale behind Budget 2021’s proposed RM220 million allocation for the construction of the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority’s (FAMA) corporate office in Kelana Jaya, Selangor, arguing that Fama was initially set up to help poor farmers. 

Anwar, who is the Port Dickson Member of Parliament (MP), said in Parliament here today the money should be used to help the poor farmers, whose livelihoods had been hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. 

“What is our priority? To build a palace or to help the farmers?" Anwar asked during the winding-up debate on the Supply Bill 2021 at the committee level for the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries.

According to Fama’s website, it is a marketing agency under the ministry.

Also in Parliament today, Dr Mahathir scrutinised the ministry’s allocation for the construction of FAMA's corporate office, claiming that nothing was being done to improve the farmers’ livelihoods. 

He said the government "must explain its measures to alleviate poverty among the farmers”.

Meanwhile, Bernama, quoting Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee, reported today the planned construction of FAMA’s new building had been planned since 2011.

He reportedly said in Parliament today the proposed land swap method for the construction of the project was implemented in accordance with existing procurement procedures and that the method had obtained the approval of the Cabinet.

“This process had gone through three prime ministers since 2011, and it was passed and signed only after the formation of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government,” Kiandee said during the winding-up debate.

He also reportedly said the building will include a bazaar to market agricultural products.

“FAMA’s functions and roles have been streamlined by implementing new marketing methods, such as digitalisation and e-commerce,” he said.

Meanwhile, Parliament’s Lower House or Dewan Rakyat today approved Budget 2021 allocations via a voice vote for three ministries at the committee stage.

The three ministries are the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries, the Ministry of Rural Development, and the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources.

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