KUALA LUMPUR – The government should focus on cultivating the local dates industry amid the commotion over the fruits being imported from Israel, said Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid.
Citing news articles reporting that locally grown date trees have been fertile and produce abundant fruits, she questioned why Putrajaya had yet to focus on the potential of local date production.
Syerleena said this after noting that Malaysia had imported over RM267.8-million worth of dates in 2023 alone.
“As a nation with a 64% Muslim population and a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, I have to raise the question about the government’s plan for the local date industry, if it can be labelled as one.
“Dates, as a sunnah food that is the focus of Ramadan, should be cultivated as an agricultural industry at a larger scale, at least to meet local needs.
“(This is) so that we no longer have to rely on imported dates from Arab nations, and subdue the worry of unknowingly consuming Israeli-made dates,” she said in a statement today.
Syerleena also suggested the government export local dates to other Muslim countries worldwide, saying it would provide more income and job opportunities for locals.
Yesterday, it was reported that customs officials seized 73 packs of Organic Jumbo Medjool Dates originating from Israel, from three premises in Petaling Jaya and Klang.
Customs Department deputy director-general (enforcement/compliance) Datuk Sazali Mohamad was reported as saying the dates – approximately worth RM678 – were brought from Europe and declared as foodstuff, before being repackaged for sale.
Earlier today, Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said his ministry would continue to monitor the sale of products from Israel. – March 14, 2024