Local white rice shortage: PM wants frequent monitoring, enforcement

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim wants frequent monitoring and enforcement to be carried out to address the shortage of local white rice in the market.

Anwar, who is also the finance minister, said the monitoring and enforcement approaches also required changes to ensure a more effective distribution of local white rice.

“I personally have heard the concerns raised by traders regarding the shortage,” he said at the Finance Ministry’s assembly today.

On the recent Special Meeting of the National Action Council on Cost of Living (NACCOL), Anwar said the government’s firmness in addressing the issue of rice prices and supplies had been evident, leading to a decrease in the market prices of imported white rice.

“Alhamdulillah, the prices have dropped by RM3, or by RM2 at some places. Basically, between RM2 and RM3, and that’s a lot for buyers and regular consumers,” he said.

Regarding the shortage of local white rice in the market, Anwar said the NACCOL meeting also revealed that the country has 150,000 tonnes of local white rice to distribute but it is not enough for everyone.

At present, he said the rice category is sold and distributed by the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) and the Farmers Organisations Authority (LPP) at a price of RM26 for a 10kg pack.

“In reality, our (Malaysia) rice, sugar and crude oil prices are the cheapest in Southeast Asia and this fact is not being emphasised,” he said.

On March 19, the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry announced that the retail prices of imported white rice would be reduced between RM2 and RM3. It took effect yesterday.

The current retail price of imported white rice in the market is between RM38 to RM45 for a 10kg pack and with the announcement of the new price range, the price for the 10kg pack would drop to RM35.

Retargeting assistance

Meanwhile, in his post on Facebook, the prime minister said the government is firm on ensuring that the people will not be pressured by those who want to rake in excessive profits, especially in the sale of daily necessities such as rice.

He said the government will continue to be consistent with the approach of retargeting its assistance and subsidy to ensure that it reaches the people in need and reflects the concept of fairness.

“If we know that the bulk subsidy approach used before had also benefitted the super-rich and migrants, then why would we want it to continue?

“That’s why the subsidy must be retargeted to the hardcore poor and marginalised communities, and this of course includes the urban and rural poor,” Anwar said.

- Bernama