Criminalise act of mixing local rice with imported ones – MP

An MP has proposed that the government amend the Control of Paddy and Rice Act 1994 (Act 522) to allow legal action to be taken against those mixing local white rice with imported white rice.

Hassan Abdul Karim (Harapan-Pasir Gudang) said Act 522 was seen as lax because there was no legal provision in the law that stated the act (of mixing) as a criminal offence.

“As far as I remember, until today, there has not been any court case of any party being charged with the offence of mixing local white rice with imported rice.

“So, I propose that the act be amended by including a section stating that mixing local rice with imported rice is a criminal offence that can be punished by the law,” he said when debating the motion of thanks for the royal address in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

Hassan said it was understood that previously 93 factories and 130 wholesalers and retailers who were accused of mixing local white rice with imported white rice had been investigated.

However, to date, no one has been charged.

Single-grade rice

Bukit Gantang MP Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal asked the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry to finalise the proposal to introduce a single-grade local white rice.

Syed Hussin, who is also the head of the Food Cluster Monitoring Task Force of the National Action Council on Cost of Living (Naccol), said the proposal was a step to stop the issues of price manipulation and combat rice cartel activities.

“A single-grade rice provides an opportunity to stop price manipulation and the action of parties who mix local white rice with imported white rice.

“I presented the proposal for one grade, one price rice at the Naccol full meeting on Feb 23 but until now, there has been no final decision,” he said.

Idris Ahmad (PN-Bagan Serai) proposed to restore the establishment (re-establish) of the National Paddy and Rice Board so that farmers get fairer rights in the local rice market.

On the Pilot Fertiliser Scheme, he suggested that the government provide the fertiliser directly to the National Farmers’ Organisation for targeted distribution to farmers.

Che Mohamad Zulkifly Jusoh (PN-Besut) also urged the government to submit a report on the paddy and rice cartel that has been completed by the Malaysia Competition Commission.

The sitting continues next Wednesday.

- Bernama

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