KUALA LUMPUR, October 3 – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has approved four additional intervention measures to address the issue of rice supply in the country. Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said these measures include directing the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA) to increase the distribution of local white rice to rural areas, including grocery stores. “Because the selling margin for local white rice is only 50 sen per 10-kilogram bag, the government will subsidize the transportation costs to FAMA,” he said at a special media briefing here today.
Mohamad said the intervention measures were approved by the Prime Minister during a meeting held with him today. For Sabah and Sarawak, he said the government agreed to provide a subsidy of RM950 per metric tonne for imported white rice (BPI) starting October 5, allowing BPI to be obtained at a retail price of RM31 for every 10 kg. He said this action was taken because the production of local white rice in both states was limited. Mohamad said all suppliers would use BPI to obtain supplies at a wholesale price of RM3,200 (warehouse door price) per 50 kg bag, subject to the conditions set.
“The terms of the rice procurement contract under the previous government agency stipulated the use of local white rice. Therefore, the government has decided that new rice procurement under government contracts will use imported white rice,” he said. He added that his ministry had launched the Special Integrated White Rice Enforcement Operation Task Force (OP BPT) today, led by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Chan Foong Hin.
“OP BPT will involve the Rice and Rice Supervision Authority (KPB), the enforcement agency of the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDN), the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM), and the Department of Quarantine and Inspection Services Malaysia (MAQIS). Through OP BPT, we will conduct comprehensive inspections of the entire industry chain, including all large factories and rice wholesalers starting tomorrow. Rice samples will also be taken from all rice mills and rice wholesalers as well as supermarkets for chemical analysis,” he said.
In addition, Mohamad said his ministry would take stern action against anyone found to be changing bags or mixing local white rice with imported white rice or hoarding local white rice. He also advised the public to avoid panic buying, stay calm, and buy rice according to their needs and ability. When there is panic buying, for example, people in the Klang Valley usually prefer to buy imported rice rather than local rice, but when there is a sudden increase in the price of imported rice to RM37 and RM38, they switch to local rice.
“In fact, the amount of rice in Malaysia is not less; it’s just that the price of imported rice has risen suddenly,” he said. When asked about the progress of discussions between the Malaysian government and the Indian government involving the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare of India, he said all of Malaysia’s requests would be answered this week. Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) has contacted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi… our relationship with India is very good. God willing, we will get a good result this week,” he said.
Previously, Mohamad said he had met with representatives of the Indian government to discuss the export restrictions on white rice supplies from that country at a reasonable government-to-government price.
