Govt must no longer be 'in denial' on rice supply issue - former minister

PARLIAMENT | A former Perikatan Nasional minister debating the 12th Malaysia Plan mid-term review has urged the government to stop being “in denial" over problems surrounding the supply of locally produced rice.

Ronald Kiandee (PN-Beluran) cited public complaints on the scarce supply of local rice sold at a controlled subsidised price of RM2.60 per kg.

"Nowadays consumers are unable to buy local rice at RM2.60 per kg. Imported rice is sold in the range between RM3.60 and RM3.90 per kg. We should have the option to buy local rice.

"That is why I said the ministry must investigate why we are unable to buy local rice in the market," he said.

The former agriculture and food industries minister questioned if it was caused by manipulation to increase profit.

“Or are there factories that refuse to process local paddy to be sold as local rice, because it is more profitable to process imported padi?

“So the government must no longer be in a denial syndrome but investigate this matter so Malaysians can continue to buy local rice at RM2.60 per kg,” Ronald (above) said.

Jalaluddin Alias (BN-Jelebu) urged the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry under minister Mohamad Sabu to consider reviewing Malaysia's rice export until the domestic supply has stabilised.

He attributed the domestic shortage to increased demands following price hikes of imported rice, while at the same time, Malaysia continues to export a portion of its rice produce.

"The ministry must manage this matter so that rice export follows a guideline where domestic demands must be met first.

"I would like to suggest that we reduce our rice export until the domestic supply is stable," he said.

Back to ‘ubi kayu’

Meanwhile, Rosol Wahid (PN-Hulu Terengganu) in a swipe at the government recalled times during the Japanese occupation of Malaya when rice was in short supply.

"Do we want to encourage our people to go back to eating cassava (ubi kayu) like during the times of the Japanese?" he said.

In another proposal to boost domestic supply, Azli Yusof (Harapan-Shah Alam) highlighted the potential to rejuvenate 97,000ha comprising over 18,000 plots of abandoned paddy fields, at 2,007 locations nationwide.

"This is a problem, but there also lies an opportunity (to increase rice yield).

"The abandoned plots represent up to 22 percent of a total of 436,000 paddy fields nationwide," said Azly who revealed that he continues to run his family-owned paddy fields in Sungai Besar, one of Selangor's main rice bowls.

On Sept 4, Agriculture and Food Security Ministry division secretary in charge of paddy industry development, Azman Mahmood, reportedly said the government has taken intervention measures to boost local rice supply.

He was quoted as saying by Bernama that the government has instructed rice millers in the northern region to increase their production by 20 percent and channel it through Padibernas Nasional Bhd (Bernas), for a targeted additional 423,000 metric tonnes of rice a year. - Mkini