Veteran newsman A Kadir Jasin has called on the government to explain the reason behind a 90 sen price increase on Malaysia Madani white rice, which is expected to be available in the market beginning March 1.
In a statement, he said previously, the maximum price of rice was RM2.60 for 1kg.
However, quoting an explanation by the chairperson of the food cluster task force under the National Action Council for Cost of Living (Naccol) Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Faisal, 1kg of Malaysia Madani white rice would cost RM3.50.
“If Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz gave an accurate statement, then the Madani rice story is as follows: right now, there are two types of rice in the market - local and imported white rice.
“Effective Feb 19, there will be only one type branded as Malaysia Madani white rice.
“The ceiling price of this Madani rice is RM30 for a 10kg pack. That means 1kg is RM3. For a 5kg pack, the price is RM15.50 or RM3.10 per kg. A 1kg pack costs RM3.50.
“Meaning, the lowest ceiling price is RM3 per kg and the highest is RM3.50,” he said, adding that this would put the price of rice at the highest amount in 18 years.
Price control
Following criticism, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said price control would be the main agenda to be discussed by Naccol next week.
He said the meeting, scheduled earlier, had to be postponed to next week to include more urgent matters such as rice price control.
“Although the price cannot be very low, I’m sure it can be reduced. We have to look into where the supply comes from, who the contractors are, and how much profit they make,” he said in his speech at the Madani Cheapest Sales programme in Bukit Mertajam, Penang, yesterday.
Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz previously claimed that Malaysia Madani white rice would be the sole category in the market to provide appropriate pricing and availability for all.
He said in line with the adjustment, paddy farmers and growers will be more comfortable with the new ceiling price.
He added that setting the ceiling price is to stop local white rice manipulation, where some manufacturers would mix local white rice with imported white rice and sell them as expensive rice brands to gain extra profit.
Yesterday, Agriculture and Food Security Ministry secretary-general Lokman Hakim Ali reportedly said the price of local white rice as a controlled food item must be approved by the cabinet before any decision can be announced. - Mkini
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