SHAH ALAM (Jan 20): The Selangor government is conducting a comprehensive review of potential mechanisms, to address the declining paddy purchase prices in the state.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said that the issue was thoroughly discussed in a recent state government executive councillors' (exco) meeting.

“I raised this matter in the recent exco meeting, and Datuk Izham Hashim (the state infrastructure and agriculture exco) is currently examining additional measures we can implement to resolve the issue.

“There may be concerns related to paddy quality, yield, and other factors. We will address all of these aspects comprehensively,” he told reporters after officiating the Selangor women's gathering on Monday.

Amirudin also said that one of the possible measures is providing assistance to the affected farmers.

Recently, the media reported that around 4,000 farmers in Sungai Besar near here had expressed concerns over a significant drop in paddy purchase prices, which had decreased from RM1,650 per metric ton last season to RM1,400.

The price reduction has reportedly impacted the farmers' income, even though the quality of the paddy has improved, and the risk of disease lower.

In a separate development, Amirudin shared that the state government is aiming to save up to RM300 million over the next 10 years through the Selangor Children’s Heritage Fund (Tawas).

He explained that the fund’s first group of savings would be injected, starting in 2026, emphasising the government's long-term commitment to ensuring the successful implementation and disbursement of the fund.

“We need a substantial fund. Over the next 10 years, we are projecting an accumulation of around RM200 million to RM300 million, and we will fulfil this commitment starting in 2026,” he said.

Tawas, introduced in June 2008, is a welfare initiative with a savings-based concept aimed at Selangor-born babies from Jan 1, 2008 onwards, subject to meeting at least one of the registration criteria.

Uploaded by Tham Yek Lee