Akmal wants tougher penalties for manipulating rice supplies

 

Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh said currently, offenders who manipulate the nation’s rice supply can afford to pay the fines.

ALOR GAJAH: The government should consider imposing harsher penalties on those who manipulate the nation’s rice supply, says Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh.

He said stricter punishment, such as whipping or imprisonment, should be imposed against such irresponsible parties to serve as a deterrent.

“If we look at the current maximum penalty, it is only in the form of fines, and the offenders can still afford to pay the fine even if it is up to RM100,000.

“Imposing a heavier penalty is not just about punishment but more about sending a warning to them so that no one abuses the subsidy, while the people are struggling to obtain rice supplies,” he told reporters after the release of fish and giant freshwater prawn seeds in Sungai Melaka, Kampung Gangsa.

In a related development, Akmal, who is the state rural development, agriculture and food security committee chairman, said Melaka had received an additional 300 tonnes of local rice and the remaining 200 tonnes would arrive by next week.

He said local rice would also be sold at the assembly development and coordination committee complex, supermarkets and grocery shops this week. - FMT