Minimum of 65 per cent of buffer stocks for food needed

SHAH ALAM - Former international trade and industry minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz said the government should ensure that buffer stocks for the nation's food security such as rice and chicken are kept at a minimum 65 per cent of the people's consumption throughout the food crisis.

Rafidah who was also the former public enterprises minister said strategic steps were important to lessen the burden of the people during this extraordinary situation of inflation and food security crisis which were piling up.

She said the country was facing the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict and should be handled properly by the government especially on food and medical supplies.

"It is a basic need, I'm concerned, is our government controlling the buffer stocks for rice throughout this critical time?. While I was the public enterprises minister, I would ensure that the buffer stocks for rice consist of 65 per cent from the public's usage.

"This meant that the National Paddy and Rice Board (LPN) sellers and factories had the initiative to keep a stock for rice.

"If ever there is a crisis we would not be worried because of the sufficient stocks. I am not sure whether we are ensuring these important steps are taken.

"In Thailand, the efforts to build up the stocks for rice is a top priority during these times." she said in an exclusive interview with Sinar Premium on Thursday.

She pointed out that the necessary steps have to be prioritised by the government especially when the country has entered the transition to endemic phase.

Being the former finance deputy minister, Rafidah was pushing the government to focus on the issue and take action before it hits even harder.

She urged the government to create an efficient system to manage the crisis with the agenda of ensuring that food and medical supplies were sufficient.

"This agenda should be the country's priority because other countries are focusing on these areas. We should acknowledge it and not give an answer with a feel good factor to the people.

"The government must admit the fact that the country is facing a food crisis and the problem involved other countries throughout the world. What solutions are we bringing towards the crisis?

"The initiative of strengthening the food crisis management must be broken down according to the priorities of the people. The government has to be involved in knowing what the people need during the crisis.

"If the food security issue is a priority, it needs to be resolved first. Then we can look into the issue of education so that future generations would not be affected," she said.