KUALA LUMPUR, 25 June : The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry has appointed 12 members of the National Agricultural Advisory Council (MPPN) comprising 10 permanent members and two joint members for the 2020-2021 session.

According to the ministry's statement, those appointed have received their letter of appointment from the Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Ronald Kiandee at the MPPN Pre-Council Meeting at Wisma Tani Putrajaya today.

Those appointed as permanent members are Datuk Seri Syed Razlan Syed Putra Jamalullail, Tan Sri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah, Prof Datin His Majesty Fatima Mohamed Arshad, Tan Sri Francis Lau Tuang Nguang and Datuk Seri Dr. Irmohizam Ibrahim.

The other five nominees were Prof. Datuk Dr. Mad Nasir Shamsudin, Prof. Dr. Rais Hussin Mohamed Ariff, Prof. Dr. Suhaimi Napis, Prof. Dr. Sivamurugan Pandian and Prof. Dr. M Niaz Asadullah.

Meanwhile Dr. Yasmin B.H. Ooi and Datuk Raghu Loganathan Pillai were appointed as joint members.

According to the ministry, the individuals will act as the highest advisory body to Kiandee in identifying issues related to food security as well as the agriculture and food industry. They will serve by providing appropriate intervention measures and proposing the sector's new direction in line with current developments and needs.

"The MPPN will also serve as a complement to the strategies supported by the ministry to be more efficient and productive," he said.

According to the statement, several new approaches will be introduced to enhance the effectiveness of MPPN implementation, among which Kiandee himself will chair the event to engage directly with experts and players in the agriculture and food industry.

He said the aim is to bring about policy changes to benefit farmers, fishermen and farmers as well as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that would boost the country's overall income.

At the same time, the MPPN's name will be changed to the 'National Council of Agriculture and Food Industry' based on the ministry's new scope, which includes the food industry, the statement added. - BERNAMA

Date of Input: 26/06/2020 | Updated: 26/06/2020 | siti_aisyah