KUALA SELANGOR - The Selangor government admitted that five kilogrammes (kg) of Ehsan rice produced by the Selangor Agricultural Development Corporation (PKPS) experienced a supply shortage between 10 and 15 per cent at the beginning of last month.
Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said the issue was discovered from an Ehsan Sales report throughout the state.
"If there was a shortage, it happened at one or two stalls that ran out of stock and did not manage to restock in time," he revealed.
He made the remark after the 17th Universiti Selangor (Unisel) Convocation Ceremony at the Bestari Jaya Campus, today.
Amirudin said the state government through Infrastructure Development and Modernisation of Agriculture and Plantation Exco Ir Izham Hashim and the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry was asked to monitor the issue more closely.
"So far, the report is not very critical and is still under control. In fact, I believe that we can handle it as well as increase the production and also surplus from Sekinchan which is the state's paddy and rice production area," he said.
In regards to the state government's preparedness to increase rice supply during the Ehsan Rahmah Sale (JER) in the state, Amirudin said that it will be implemented due to a high demand at the moment.
"JER will continue, but most importantly, we also want to make sure that there is enough supply at the supermarket.
"Currently, the four outlets that sell Ehsan goods are sufficient despite the high demand after it was shared on Facebook that our rice is cheaper than other rice," he said.
He noted that the state government provided a subsidy of RM3 for every 5kg of Ehsan rice purchased at JER.
"At the outlets, no rice subsidy is given unless they come and buy at JER only," he stressed.