ADUN SPEAKS | Since the "Buying Vegetables for Vulnerable Groups" campaign was launched three weeks ago, DAP leaders, MPs as well as state assemblypersons have shown the spirit of solidarity by purchasing more than 150 tonnes of Cameron Highlands’ fresh vegetables and distributing them to families in need in their respective constituencies, in the hope of lessening their financial burden.

In response to the Covid-19 outbreak, the government extended the movement control order (MCO) several times which unfortunately caused a slowdown in logistics.

Besides that, several large markets and wholesale markets were temporarily closed due to the pandemic.

This resulted in the unconventional situation whereby the sales of agricultural products were sluggish while many consumers could not buy vegetables when they wanted to or could not afford to buy vegetables.

When many farmers have been facing the problem of sluggish sales of agricultural products, DAP MPs and state assemblymen believe in the spirit of solidarity in the midst of hardship and have jointly launched the “Buying Vegetables for Vulnerable Groups" campaign by purchasing fresh vegetables from Cameron Highlands’ farmers at wholesale prices.

This campaign aims at assisting farmers by connecting them to various sales channels and relieving their financial burden wrought by the MCO.

Among all, Anthony Loke Siew Fook, Seremban MP from DAP, has contributed a lot and deserves the credit. In the past two weeks, he has purchased more than 50 tonnes of fresh vegetables in total.

With the help of many members of village committees as well as volunteers from Negeri Sembilan, the vegetables were sorted, packed and delivered to different regions of the state. Each pack of vegetables weighs about 3 to 5kg.

Also, Dato Chan, an ardent supporter of DAP, has taken another approach in supporting this cause.

He has purchased more than 4,000 boxes of vegetables that weighed 5kg each from Cameron Highlands vegetable vendors and later distributed them to families in need with the help of DAP volunteers.

I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, Bentong MP Wong Tack, Klang MP Charles Santiago, Selangor state exco as well as Kinrara state assemblyperson Ng Sze Han, Negeri Sembilan state exco Arul Kumar, Seri Kembangan state assemblyperson Ean Yong Hian Wah, Balakong state assemblyperson Wong Siew Ki, Keranji state assemblyman Chong Zhe Min, Kuala Langat local councillor Ang Eu Liang and all warm-hearted Cameron Highlands vegetable farmers who have supported this campaign wholeheartedly to promote solidarity and reciprocity.

In order to fight and win against the pandemic, the spirit of solidarity and mutual support among us is indispensable.

Although we have to stay at home to overcome this pandemic, this does not mean that we should leave all problems and challenges to the government and relevant authorities.

We can only work from home at present but as citizens we should also actively participate in various anti-epidemic actions in order to contribute to the country and the society as a whole.

As far as I know, currently a lot of agricultural products need to be purchased in large quantities.

They are not confined to only vegetables, but fish and fruits are also included.

DAP leaders will continue to actively play the role of "building bridges" by connecting the farmers to sales channels, in the hope to ease the farmers’ burden.

Furthermore, it is also our hope that the series of efforts could open up more sales channels for agricultural products so that pressing challenges concerning the sluggish sales of vegetables, fruits and fish that many farmers are facing, particularly during the MCO, can be gradually solved.

CHIONG YOKE KONG is the Tanah Rata state assemblyperson.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.

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