ALOR STAR: It was a warm evening outside his home in Kampung Sungai Kuar as Mohd Fuad Yaacob carved out a smile, enjoying the view of a golden padi field that was ready to be harvested.

"I just got discharged from the hospital recently. I was a bit unwell, so the doctor advised me to 'check in' (be admitted) for several days to carry out thorough check-ups," quipped the seasoned farmer during an interview about a month ago.

The chairman of Malaysian Padi Farmers Brotherhood Organisation (Pesawah) spoke affectionately of his decades of struggles alongside 200,000 farmers nationwide.

He explained in detail issues concerning the nation's padi industry from leakages in subsidised padi seeds, spiralling production costs, dwindling crops to global warming threats that are eating the farmers' padi.

During the interview for NST's special report, Fuad explained meticulously on the farmers' struggles, with the majority of them living in poverty with mounting debts.

"It is not that they don't want to pay off their debts. They just can't afford it due to dwindling yields and increasing production costs. The spiralling cost of living further complicates matters.

"Many people out there who have never set foot in the padi fields, don't understand the farmers' predicaments," he said, expressing his grave concern on the nation's food security if the issues were not properly addressed.

His face was beaming when he spoke about the prospective of presenting the farmers' plight personally to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

During the interview, Fuad took out his phone and showed photos of himself with Anwar during a forum on padi industry issues at a local university several years back.

"I believe our PM is honest in fighting for the welfare of the padi farmers. I have known him since the 1990s and he has always been attentive to the farmers' plight," Fuad said during the interview.

Despite his deteriorating health, Fuad made the effort to travel to Kuala Lumpur several days ago to attend the National Action Council on Cost of Living (Naccol) chaired by the prime minister.

However, things did not go down as he had wished for.

Pesawah executive council member Abdul Rashid Yob said Fuad did not participate in the meeting, despite getting an invitation.

"It turned out that only government agencies were allowed to participate in the meeting. It is heart wrenching to learn that he was unable to meet the PM personally during the Naccol meeting.

"He told us that he regretted not getting the opportunity to speak directly with the PM himself.

"In a sheer subdued tone, he said that there was nothing he could do about it," Rashid said. It turned out that that was Fuad's dying wish.

Yesterday, he passed away in Sungai Petani while getting his medical supply.

"According to his wife, she took him to Sungai Petani yesterday afternoon to get his medication supply but he passed away in the car while waiting for his turn to get supply," Rashid said when contacted.

He added that Fuad's sudden passing has sent a shockwave to the farmers fraternity.

"It is a huge loss for us. He was still fighting for the padi farmers' welfare," he said.

Rashid described Fuad as a true fighter who spoke without fear or favour when speaking up for the farmers.

"As a member of the State Farmers Organisation, he made good use of the platform to champion the welfare of padi farmers during the Nafas (National Farmers Organisation) meetings," he said.

Rashid added that Fuad was also instrumental in among others, pushing for the increment of the padi yields subsidy rate last year and the government's RM600 cash aid prior to the padi harvesting season for the farmers.

"We will forever be indebted to him," he said, adding that Fuad's body is expected to be laid to rest at the Padang Hang Muslim cemetery at about 11am today.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/03/1029373/pesawah-chairman-passes-away-wish-meet-pm-unfulfilled