List down local white rice manufacturers for public reference - Naccol

SHAH ALAM - The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry (KPKM) has been requested to list down manufacturers who produce and supply local white rice (BPT) priced at RM26 for 10 kilogrammes throughout the Aidilfitri festive season to the public.

National Action Council for Cost of Living (NACCOL) Task Force Chairman Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal said the listing step was crucial to ensure all current stocks of paddy and rice purchased by manufacturers totalling 140,000 metric tonnes were properly processed and released for immediate use in the local market.

He said the decision made during the NACCOL meeting on Tuesday also guaranteed a stock of 140,000 metric tons of BPT that could be released and sold at RM26 for 10 kilogrammes, which was sufficient to meet the needs of consumers for a month.

"I see the ministry's directive to release and sell all 140,000 metric tons of local white rice purchased by manufacturers at RM26 for 10 kilogrammes immediately as a good decision.

"So, I urge the ministry to list the factories that produce local white rice priced at RM26 for public reference," he said.

Commenting further, Syed Abu Hussin also urged the ministry to disclose a list of locations for the sale and distribution of subsidised rice (Beras Putih Tempatan, BPT) priced at RM26 for 10 kilogrammes throughout the country.

He clarified that there was a need of the locations list for the sale and distribution of BPT to be made public to prevent the rice supply from 'disappearing' from the local market.

"With the supply of BPT guaranteed by the government throughout the Aidilfitri celebration period, we do not want it to 'disappear' from the market due to the presence of syndicates repackaging local white rice mixed with imported white rice taking advantage," he said.

"I, on behalf of the Task Force (Food Cluster) Naccol, will monitor to ensure the availability of the local white rice supply," he added.