Lee Khai Loon (PH-Machang Bubok), who tabled an emergency motion in the Penang state assembly to address the rising cost of living, argued that the moratorium was necessary as the country needed all the agricultural land it had for food production and livestock rearing.

“Existing agricultural land should not be converted for use to build houses or factories and warehouses. We need to make sure that we do not lose fertile land and that we can continue using them to produce food,” he said.

Lee also called for the Sungai Perak raw water transfer scheme (SPRWTS) to be expedited to ensure a continuous water supply for the Northern Region Economic Corridor located between southern Penang and northern Perak.

In the wake of the Perak government’s recent announcement of low water levels at the Bukit Merah Dam, he said it was crucial for this water scheme to be expedited to protect padi farming and industrial activities in the area.

SPRWTS was proposed by the Penang government as a solution to water woes faced by the state and northern Perak. It is an inter-state raw water transfer scheme, similar to the Johor-Melaka and Pahang-Selangor raw water transfer schemes.

The scheme was said to be the most rational and cost-effective solution for both Penang and Perak.

However, in March, the Perak government rejected the water scheme, citing studies that show Perak does not even have enough for its own use.

Lee called on the federal government to step in and play the role of mediator by calling both state governments to convene and negotiate this water scheme.

Lim Guan Eng (PH-Air Putih) urged Malaysia to emulate Singapore in diversifying its source countries for imported foods, saying Singapore imported food from 170 countries.

According to the World Bank, Malaysia imports its food from 130 countries, notably China, India, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, the US, Brazil and the European Union.