Consider cassava as alternative to rice, speaker urges rakyat

Amid a shortage of local rice supply, Dewan Rakyat speaker Johari Abdul has suggested that people consider eating cassava (ubi kayu) as an alternative carbohydrate source.

Harian Metro quoted Johari (above) as suggesting more Malaysians to be bold and not rely solely on rice as their main staple food.

"If rice (shortage) is an issue, what is the purpose of the rice that we eat? The purpose is to get carbohydrates.

“So, I feel is there an alternative while we resolve the rice issue?" he asked.

“For example, I had discussions with several MPs from Sarawak where cassava is planted as a supplement.

“This is because cassava has greater health benefits. If compared to the sugar level in rice, it is much lower,” the former Sungai Petani MP was quoted as saying after a visit to the Madani Sale Programme in Bandar Perdana, Sungai Petani.

Also present was the National Action Council on Cost of Living (Naccol) chairperson Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal.

Commenting further, Johari said exploring alternative local food sources could be a way to reduce reliance on imports.

“So, I think the time has come for the state governments and local authorities to open the doors for the people to cultivate abandoned plots of land and plant alternative food sources including vegetables.

"When there is more supply, prices will surely go down, and so we must have the courage to try.

“Sometimes, our reliance on food imports is very high, a year ago (it was) close to RM60 billion," he said, citing recent successes including an onion cultivation project in Perak.

‘Raise floor price for paddy’

Meanwhile, Bernama reported the Farmers' Organisation Authority (LPP) urging the government to increase the floor price for locally-produced paddy, besides setting a ceiling price for imported rice.

LPP chairperson Mahfuz Omar said the increase in the floor price of paddy was also to protect farmers, as rice processors couldn’t purchase paddy below the set floor price.

"We at LPP, through the Farmers Advisory Council involving state government representatives from each state, have made resolutions and have brought this issue to the attention of the minister.

"We suggest raising the minimum price for buying paddy; it's to safeguard farmers. Factories won't be allowed to purchase below this price, which ensures farmers can maintain their livelihood and profit," he said after launching the Agro Madani Mega Raya LPP Sales Programme in Kedah today.

Mahfuz also proposed that the government set a ceiling price for imported rice to prevent supply manipulation in the market.

"When there is no ceiling price, it will lead to manufacturers manipulating the supply. They mix local rice with imported rice to make a profit, so we ask for a ceiling price for imported rice," he said.

In October last year, the government announced an increase in the floor price for paddy to RM1,300 per tonne compared to the RM1,200 rate set since 2014.

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