MUAR, Aug 6 (Bernama) -- The move by the government to impose conditionsfor counter-trading in Malaysian agricultural commodities in the purchaseagreements for military armaments indirectly helps to stabilise the pricesof commodities such as palm oil which will benefit the farmers.Defence Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said as such farmers shouldnot think that the purchase of armaments involving massive expenditure wasof no benefit to them.

"That's why next time, if we (farmers) see soldiers carrying firearms,think also of its relationship which brings benefit to them too," he saidwhen opening the general meeting of the South Muar Area FarmersOrganisation (PPK) at Sungai Balang, near here Tuesday.

He said the government was always looking for more innovative ways ofstabilising Malaysian commodity prices, particularly palm oil, and openednew markets to boost the farmers' income.

He said by imposing counter-trading of Malaysian palm oil by the foreigncompanies that were awarded contracts to supply armaments and militaryequipment worth billions of ringgit, Malaysia actually got back between 30and 50 per cent of the contract value. -- BERNAMA

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