Mat Sabu: Bernas to slash prices of imported white rice

Padiberas Nasional Berhad (Bernas) has agreed to reduce the price of imported white rice in Peninsular Malaysia, said Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu.

“Price of imported white rice will be reduced from the current RM3,000 per metric tonne to RM2,800 per metric tonne effective Dec 1.

“The agreement was reached following a meeting between the ministry and Bernas recently. It is made in line with the drop in rice prices globally, coupled with the strengthening of ringgit against the US dollar.

“We are optimistic the initiative will help reduce the cost of living by increasing access to cheaper rice,” he said in a statement today.

Mohamad (above) added that his team would continue engaging all stakeholders to come up with a long-term plan, which would reflect a more realistic structure of rice production costs.

This, he said, would ensure the nation’s rice and paddy industry continues to expand to ensure farmers’ livelihood is protected, in addition to strengthening the nation’s food security.

On Jan 11, Utusan Malaysia reported Gabungan Pengilang-Pengilang Beras Malaysia alleging the existence of a cartel in the nation’s rice and paddy industry, which had packaged local rice as imported ones to be sold for higher prices.

“The cartel is taking consumers for a ride and has effectively rendered the authorities unable to differentiate which is local rice and which imported ones,” its chairperson Marzukhi Othman was reported as saying.

On Nov 9, Deputy Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Fuziah Salleh said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will expose the rice and paddy cartel that has been profiting from people’s misery while monopolising the food item.

She said the Malaysia Competition Commission had completed a report on the matter but could not reveal it for now.

“The report has been completed and I have studied it. However, I cannot reveal its contents. I cannot supersede the premier.

“Let the prime minister reveal the details,” Fuziah was reported as saying.

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