Membela Hak Rakyat Sabah - Monopoli Bernas Bakal Di Hapuskan DI Sabah.

 Berita No. 1

 

https://www.theborneopost.com/2023/09/06/sabah-should-break-free-of-bernas-monopoly-jeffrey/

“Bernas must be transparent in its pricing mechanisms and its stock levels. The public deserves to know how prices are determined and what measures are being taken to stabilise the market,” he said.

On top of that, Jeffrey said Bernas should also release their additional stocks from their reserves as these are not just business assets.

“They are a public resource, especially in times of increased demand or market instability such as now. Of course all businesses want to generate profit, but Bernas is dealing with an essential staple. Profit must not come at the expense of the basic needs of the people,” he said. 

 

Berita No. 2

 

Sabah doesn't need Bernas to monopolize its rice supplies

https://permadumalaysia.blogspot.com/2023/09/sabah-doesnt-need-syed-mokhtars-bernas.html?m=1

• Jeffrey Kitingan said Sabah should handle rice imports instead of Bernas
• Following Bernas’s price hike for imported white rice 
• Last Fri Bernas raised imported rice price from RM2,350/mt to RM3,200 
• Kitingan said such significant price hike will drastically impact Sabah households
• He said Bernas’s profits must not come at the expense of Sabah people
• Kitingan calls for Sabah-tailored approach in managing rice imports
  
• time has come for Sabah to break free from monopoly that long shaped local market
  
• stimulate competition, more stable, perhaps lower rice prices for Sabah consumers
• 2021 Sabah imported 290,000 tonnes of rice 
• local rice production just 22,000 tonnes

 

My Comments :  First of all congratulations to Dep Chief Minister Dato Jeffrey Kitingan for saying what should have been said 30 years ago.  I am glad to see that my preaching against gomen licensed monopolies has not been in vain including of course the rice import monopoly.

So Sabah imports 290,000 tonnes of rice a year. That is a lot of rice.

Say 220,000 mt x RM3,200 = RM704 MILLION worth of rice imports a year.

Assuming a 10% net profit, that amounts to RM70.4 MILLION in monopoly profits from the state of Sabah alone. 

If the net profit is 15%, that amounts to RM105.6  MILLION in monopoly profits from the state of Sabah alone. 

Malaysia has 12 other States plus the Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur which is perhaps the largest consumer of rice in the country. 

In 2022, the import volume of rice in Malaysia amounted to approximately 1.24 million metric tons, a slight increase compared to more than 1.16 million metric tons in the previous year

Say 1,240,000 metric tonnes x RM3,200 = RM3,968,000,000  (RM3.968 BILLION).

10% net profit = RM396.8 MILLION MONOPOLY PROFITS !!

15% net profit = RM595.2 MILLION MONOPOLY PROFITS !!

Belum kira lagi import Beras Basmathi or import Beras Wangi Thailand, Vietnam etc.

But certainly the rice import monopoly makes a lot of money.

If Sabah takes over the import of rice then those millions of profits from importing rice will accrue to Sabah or can result in cheaper rice prices in the State. The 3.6 million people of Sabah will benefit.

It is high time we abolish all these gomen granted monopolies which make the few very rich and make the millions of people pay monopoly prices.

Tahniah kepada pimpinan kerajaan Negeri Sabah kerana berani membela hak rakyat negeri Sabah.

Pimpinan lain dan rakyat negeri lain perlu bangun tidur.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.