By Dr Mahathir Hj Mohd Rais
Farmers have long battled rising costs, unpredictable market conditions, and shrinking profits. Their struggles did not begin with the recent diesel price hike, nor will they end with temporary adjustments to subsidies or paddy prices. Yet, the loudest voices today seem more focused on amplifying dissatisfaction rather than presenting real solutions.
Beyond Fuel Prices: What’s the Plan?
For years, farmers have been asking for more than short-term relief. They need investment in modernisation, fairer market access, and income stability. The conversation should not just be about price hikes—it should be about how to protect farmers from needing subsidies in the first place. If the concern for farmers is genuine, where is the structured plan to provide them with the tools and policies needed for long-term success?
Demanding higher paddy prices is not a strategy—it is a reaction. What happens when costs rise again? What safeguards are in place to prevent farmers from bearing the brunt of future economic shifts? These are the real discussions that need to take place.
The struggles of farmers are not new. Fertilizer costs, pesticide prices and operational expenses have been rising for years. Farmers and their organizations have continuously called for comprehensive reforms, not just temporary measures. Yet, the current discourse is largely reactionary, with little discussion about real structural solutions.
If the goal is to uplift farmers, where is the blueprint for modernizing the agricultural sector? What measures are being proposed to improve efficiency, reduce dependency on costly inputs, and ensure that farmers earn a fair return for their hard work? It is not enough to call for price increases—there must be a clear strategy to balance market stability, fair wages, and long-term agricultural sustainability.
Farmers Deserve Policies, Not Political Performances
Farmers are not just listening; they are watching. They know when their struggles are being used as a talking point rather than being addressed with meaningful action. Speeches and outcries in Parliament mean nothing without a solid plan. If there is real commitment, let it be shown in policy blueprints, agricultural reform plans, and structured economic models that offer solutions beyond the next fuel price cycle. If there were true commitment to their welfare, solutions would have been presented in a structured manner—not just in response to a single issue, but as part of a long-term strategy for reform.
The Rakyat Wants Action, Not Empty Rhetorics
It is no longer enough to amplify problems without offering tangible solutions. If there is a genuine commitment to farmers’ welfare, let it be reflected in policy papers, structured roadmaps, and actionable strategies that provide real, lasting benefits. Where is the white paper on agricultural reform? Where is the plan for ensuring price stability, fair market access, and technological advancement in farming?
Without these, the so called fight for farmers remains nothing more than performative outrage. The rakyat is no longer easily swayed by words alone. What matters now is action, and those who claim to stand for farmers must prove it through well-defined policies not just noise.
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