LPN

Apart from hitting farmers in north Malaya, the rice crop disaster will probably affect consumers as well, for the sharp fall in padi production (more than 10% of annual production) will inevitably jack up the price of rice unless the government steps in to stabilise the price by subsidies. The National Padi and Rice Authority (LPN), which has a statutory monopoly over the purchase and sale of padi and rice, has come out with an assurance that it has sufficient rice stocks to meet every emergency. However people will not be comforted by the thought that it was the Authority itself which during the rice shortage in 1972—73 exploited its monopoly position and refused to realise its vast stocks of rice until the market price had rocketed sky-high. Subsequently the Authority was able to announce a handsome profit for that period.

While the effects of the crop disaster will only start making themselves felt over the next few months, the repercussions of the disaster could be more far-reaching as the confidence of north Malayan farmers in the government and its projects may be seriously undermined, possibly leading them to re-appraise the assumptions behind the "Green" Revolution.

Kuala Lumpur Fri.— Eight new political parties — three from Sarawak, two from Federal Territory and one each from Sahah, Kelantan and Penang — are now in the process of being registered, said the Deputy Registrar of Societies, Mr. T. Nadarajah.

The parties are Partal Rakyat Jati Sarawak. Partai Bersatu Rakyat Jelata Sarawak, the Sarawak Democratic Action Party, the Malaysia Action Party, Partai Pekeria Malaysia, Sabah Chinese United Party, Ikatan Muslimin Insaf Malaysia and Partai Socialist Democratic Malaysia.

Mr. Nadarajah said that the applications from these parties were now under consideration.

They would be registered as soon as they met the requirements of the law, he said.

Most of these parties were formed within the last few months.

The latest application was received from the Patai Socialist Democratic Malaysia based in Penang — a splinter group of the Democratic Action Party (DAP).

The Malaysian Action Party is headed by Encik. M. Mohamad Ibrahim a businessman from Kuala Lumpur, while the Sabah Chinese United Party is led by a company director, Datuk Pang Tet Tshung.

The former Selangor State Assembly member from Serendah, Puan Ganga Nair, is heading the Partai Pekerja Malaysia and a former police officer, Encik Alli Kawi is the president of the Partai Rakyat Jati Sarawak.

Businessman Bong Kim Yuk and Abang Mohamad bin Abang Anding are heading the Sarawak Democratic Action Party and the Partai Bersatu Rakyat Jelata Sarawak respectively.

Mr. Nadarajah said under the law all citizens were free to form any political party they wished, and it would be registered if it met all the requirements under the Societies Act.

On the number of Societies de-registered last year, he said a total of 309 societies were de-registered mainly because of breach of rules.

He said among them 207 were cancelled because they failed to furnish their annual returns, 46 were de-registered because they had ceased to exist, while 54 dissolved voluntarily. — Bernama.