Mat Sabu: Imported white rice to be cheaper starting tomorrow

The retail prices of imported white rice will be reduced between RM2 and RM3 effective tomorrow, said Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu.

The current retail price of imported white rice in the market is between RM38 to RM45 for a 10kg pack and with the announcement of the new price range, a 10kg pack of imported white rice will be reduced to RM35.

In a statement today, Mohamad that the decision was finalised through the National Action Council on Cost of Living (NACCOL) to overcome the shortage of local white rice in the market following the announcement for imported white rice prices by Bernas on Sept 1, 2023.

"In order to enable the people to buy rice at a reasonable price, the government through the NACCOL meeting agreed to reduce the prices of BPI between RM2 and RM3 in the market.

"The government remains optimistic that the initiative will be able to ease the people’s cost of living during Ramadan and the festive season," he said.

Mohamad added that to increase the distribution of local white rice in the market, the government has decided that all current available stock of paddy and rice that has been bought by the factories, amounting to 140,000 metric tonnes, can be processed and distributed for the local market.

“Therefore, the ministry will increase its enforcement through the Kawalselia Padi dan Beras throughout the country.

“In expanding the distribution network for local white rice, Agro Madani Sales will be initiated by the Federal Agriculture Marketing Authority (Fama) and National Farmers Organisation on a more frequent basis," he said.

Mohamad added that the government also agreed that all government contracts use imported white rice because it can ensure additional stock of local white rice of 20,000 metric tonnes would be available for distribution in April.

"All these efforts reflect the commitment of the Malaysia Madani government to ensure the welfare and wellbeing of the people as well as ensure food security in the country,” he said.

- Bernama

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