Where's the 140,000 metric tonnes of local rice, Bukit Gantang MP asks

Bukit Gantang MP Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal has urged the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry to reveal the whereabouts of the 140,000 metric tonnes of white rice, as informed in a recent meeting of the National Action Council on Cost of Living (Naccol).

“In a Naccol meeting chaired by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on March 20, the ministry’s enforcement division announced that there are 140,000 metric tonnes of local white rice available to be sold for RM26 per 10kg pack.

“The announcement came as a shock to me and the prime minister himself, as in the last seven months, we have faced a shortage of local white rice. Then, where did the 140,000 tonnes (of rice) come from, after the prime minister got angry with the situation?” Syed Abu Hussin, who is Naccol chairperson, told Malaysiakini.

“Therefore, I urge the ministry to list down all the factories that sell local rice, so that we know where to find them. This is important to ensure the availability of local rice in the market,” he added.

On March 19, Anwar demanded frequent monitoring and enforcement to be carried out to address the shortage of local white rice in the market.

The premier had previously said that the report given to him in the meeting differs from the reality on the ground concerning the staple food supply.

‘Let the minister answer’

Meanwhile, Syed Abu Hussin urged the ministry to divulge the locations where local white rice is sold.

“Our (Naccol) officers conduct checks on the ground once every two days. Out of the 60 locations surveyed, only 10 had a local white rice supply.

“So the rakyat wants to know where the rice is. The rakyat may be deprived of the rice supply they deserve due to manipulations by cartels or enforcers.

“We want to know whether the 140,000 metric tonnes of local white rice really exists on the market, or not. This (monitoring) is crucial as it involves Naccol, which was established to monitor and bring down the cost of living," he said.

When contacted, Paddy and Rice Regulatory Division director-general Azman Mahmood said he would let Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu answer the question.

“It is better for the minister to answer,” he said briefly.

Malaysiakini has contacted the ministry for comment and is awaiting a reply. - Mkini