Malaysia to procure 5,00,000 metric tonnes of white rice from India
Malaysia is set to submit a request to India to procure an additional 5,00,000 metric tonnes of white rice, the country’s agriculture minister said.
Malaysians and overseas observers tentatively welcome election results that have ended 60 years of power for United Malays National Organization, a party increasingly associated with corruption and erosion of the rule of law.
But there are also worries about “a disparate four-party coalition headed by 92-year former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad… with a limited record of compromise,” explains veteran journalist Philip Bowring.
“The tsunami resulted from a mixture of factors including Mahathir’s personal appeal, economic grievances straddling all races, comprising Malay, Chinese, Indian and others; a desire for more inclusive politics particularly among urban Malays, as well as resentment against greed and arrogance of UMNO leadership.” Mahathir was prime minister from 1981 to 2003.
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Immediate challenges include an economy powered by debt, inefficiencies due to racial preferences and scrutiny of infrastructure projects. Abrupt changes in foreign policy are not anticipated, and budget pressures will overshadow any government initiatives.
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