Elimination of middlemen not racist - Ismail Sabri

The effort to eliminate middlemen is not racist in nature, but to safeguard the interests of farmers, breeders and fishermen, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said today.

He said the elimination of middlemen was not intended towards any race, but quarters that made profit by taking advantage of the farming community.

"The middlemen are not aimed at a certain race. Even if the middlemen are Malays, they will also be eliminated," he told reporters after a gathering with farmers, breeders and fishermen here Saturday.

He said this in response to a claim by certain quarters that the ministry's move to eliminate middlemen was racist.

"The issue on middlemen has existed for a long time and they are the reason that our farmers are not able to increase their income," he added.

He said the declaration of 2014 as a year against middlemen would be reflected with the opening of more farmers' markets and fishermen's markets. This is to allow farmers and fishermen themselves to sell their produce to consumers, he added.

In another development, Ismail Sabri said the Agropreneur Consultant Council would hold its first meeting this Thursday.

He said the council was set up as part of the efforts to get more youths to venture into the agriculture sector.