opinion Like many concerned Malaysians, I worry sick about the impending rice crisis that is looming over our heads; I can’t imagine when inflation goes further up and there are food riots in the shops. The price of oil keeps soaring and is not expected to ease anytime soon; this means we can only expect the current speculation on commodities and oil to continue, further adding to the already robust demand in the world market.

So far the government has not announced any further details in averting this impending crisis except for a RM4 billion initiative, which includes developing the Limbang river estuary as a large-scale rice cultivation area in Sarawak.

There is a Chinese saying that goes, “far-away water does not help to put out the fire on our roof”. While the intention to bring development to Sarawak should be applauded; the nation however does not have the time nor the luxury to wait for a new area to be cleared, infrastructure set up and the ground be organised for production.