SHAH ALAM - The Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Owners Association (Presma) has affirmed its current stance on not increasing the price of rice, despite grappling with the escalating costs of imported white rice.
Presma President Datuk Jawahar Ali Taib Khan expressed that the association's commitment to making informed decisions regarding food item pricing, particularly with respect to their potential impact on consumers.
"For the time being, we can manage the repercussions of the rising costs associated with imported white rice, and we want to reassure everyone that there are no immediate plans for price hikes," he stold Sinar yesterday.
Nevertheless, he did express concerns about the long-term implications of the situation, admitting that the surging prices of imported white rice were placing a significant burden on restaurant owners.
"The increased cost of imported white rice is undeniably burdensome for us as business owners, as it entails numerous additional expenses.
"However, it is important to understand that we cannot simply raise prices or reduce the quantity of rice to alleviate this burden," he added.
Jawahar Ali conveyed his hope that the government would expeditiously address the broader issue of escalating commodity prices in the country, thus alleviating the strain on both consumers and business proprietors.
He stressed the necessity for the government to explore strategies aimed at boosting domestic food production, particularly in the rice sector, to reduce the nation's overreliance on imports.
"Malaysia possesses vast tracts of arable land, and it is high time for the government to explore measures that will augment food production, rather than allocating agricultural land for residential development," he urged.