PM puts govt on imported rice diet to ensure local supply for rakyat

The government has decided for its institutions such as the military, police, schools, hostels and hospitals to use imported white rice starting yesterday to enable the people to obtain local rice.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the people can get a sufficient supply of local rice if these institutions use imported white rice instead of the local variety.

"I have informed the (Agriculture and Food Security Ministry) secretary-general to find a way to ensure that the local rice mills send supplies at least to the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) and Farmers' Organisation Authority offices so that it reaches the people, but is local rice enough? It's insufficient because its production is limited.

"How can we further help the people get cheaper goods? The government starting April 1 has decided that all (rice) needs in the military, police, schools, hostels, and hospitals will use imported rice so that the people can purchase cheap local rice...thus easing their burden," he said.

He said this when speaking at the Perlis-level Madani Breaking of Fast Ceremony at Nurul Huda Felda Chuping Mosque yesterday. Also present was Perlis Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli.

On March 25, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu was reported by the media as saying that any government contract involving rice distribution would use imported white rice starting from April.

Significant visit

Meanwhile, the prime minister said his visit to Perlis was significant as his team also sought input and suggestions from the state government regarding efforts to develop the state and improve the standard of living of its people.

"I once again express my gratitude for the opportunity given to us to make this working visit meaningful with the state speaker, executive councillors, along with the Prime Minister’s Department Implementation and Coordination Unit director-general and other senior officials from various ministries.

"It didn't turn out to be a usual briefing session; usually, during visits, there's a briefing and then we leave, but we asked for input and suggestions from the state government. We're doing this in most states. Perlis is the fifth state, two days ago it was in Sarawak.

"We focused on what projects are being implemented, what problems exist if there are delays, why? What are the complaints from the people, why we couldn't address them properly, what more can be done to make Perlis progress, whether in terms of tourism or overall economic development," said Anwar.

He also drew attention to the fact that despite the Perlis state government being of a different party, they have a close and very cooperative relationship with the federal government.

Earlier, Anwar chaired a briefing on Perlis' development at the State Legislative Assembly Complex and visited the Persiaran Wawasan Ramadan Bazaar in Kangar during his brief visit to the state.

- Bernama