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By Mihar Dias Copyright (C) October 2023
In a world where politicians and authorities seem to dance around the truth, Datuk A. Kadir Jasin's demand for transparency in the face of a rice crisis is nothing short of a call for common sense.
However, it's baffling how reminiscent this situation is of history's lessons.
Kadir knows his history and goes about reminding the powers that be of lessons to be learnt from the downfall of the Roman Empire and the French Revolution.
So, as we ponder the rice scarcity and rising prices, it's hard not to draw parallels with the French Revolution, says Kadir.
Marie Antoinette's infamous "let them eat cake" statement, a dismissive response to the people's suffering, served as a catalyst for the overthrow of the absolute monarchy in France.
Could it be that our leaders risk making the same mistake?
However, it would take more than a shortage of rice to start a rebellion.
Our people are very patient and more docile than the revolutionary Frenchmen of that violent era. But we should not allow situation to worsen and test their patience.
Kadir rightly points out that food sufficiency is not a political game but a humanitarian necessity. The decline of great empires like Rome, with their own agricultural failures, should serve as a stark warning, to us.
We must recognize that our food security policy has been inadequate, with Malaysia lagging behind nations like Japan and even Indonesia in rice sufficiency.
Emulating modern Japan, a country with a higher rice sufficiency rate despite smaller land size and a larger population, should be a wake-up call. Mat Sabu may be able to learn a thing or two from the Japanese.
It's disheartening to witness Malaysia's struggle to achieve even a 70% rice sufficiency rate, especially when food security is paramount.
In the face of this crisis, it's essential for Anwar's government to provide clear, truthful answers to the people.
The echoes of history remind us that ignoring the plight of the common people can lead to dire consequences.
Let's hope that our leaders heed these warnings before it's too late, and the grains of discontent turn into a full-blown uprising.
Mihar Dias is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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