Shortage of rice issue: Investigate immediately, avoid denial syndrome - Ronald

KUALA LUMPUR - The government is reminded to not be in denial syndrome regarding the issue of local white rice supply.

Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee (PN-Beluran) urged the government especially the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry to investigate the matter that has become an annoyance for the public.

The former Agriculture and Food Industry minister explained Malaysia should have produced 65 per cent local rice and imported 35 per cent of rice.

“(But) a major portion of the 35 per cent of white rice imported were not white rice but fragrant and special rice.

“This meant we produced around 1.5 million metric tonnes of rice and import 900,000 tonnes of rice, so where is the local white rice in the market now.

“Now consumers can’t purchase local white rice at RM2.60 per kilogram (kg). Imported rice is sold at around RM3.60 to RM3.90 per kg. That’s why I said the ministries involved should investigate why we can’t obtain local white rice in the market,” he said during the 12th Malaysia Plan (MP12) Mid Term Review motion debate in Dewan Rakyat on Thursday.

The issue of rice shortage and increase in imported rice prices garnered the attention of many including Mydin managing director Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin who claimed to only receive 50 to 100 sacks of rice a day compared to 2,000 previously.

Ronald urged the government to begin investigations to identify if it was manipulated by certain parties for profits.

“Maybe there are some factories refusing to process local paddies for it to be sold as local rice due to profits of imported rice.

“The government should not remain in denial, but look and investigate this matter to ensure Malaysians would be able to purchase local rice at RM2.60 per kg of government subsidised rice,” he said.