Malaysia Urges India to Ease Export Restrictions

Malaysian Minister for Plantation and Commodities, Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, has urged India to ease export restrictions on essential commodities like rice, sugar, and onions, highlighting the adverse impact on Malaysia's supply chain. Ghani emphasized the 'friendly ties' between the two nations and hoped for a special arrangement, noting that India’s limitations on agricultural exports are detrimental to Malaysia, which relies heavily on these imports. Malaysia meets only 65% of its rice needs through domestic production, and the demand for basmati rice is rising. Despite the tension over Malaysia's refusal to extradite Zakir Naik, Ghani offered support in research and development for India’s oil palm mission. He asserted that Malaysia would continue to be a major palm oil supplier to India, addressing health concerns and ensuring no decline in exports due to India's population growth. The Indian government imposed these restrictions to control domestic prices ahead of elections, impacting Malaysia significantly given its reliance on Indian exports.