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Key Highlights

  • Madani rice

  • 'Inclusive' Bumiputera congress

  • Bersatu to plug loophole

Madani rice

The government's latest PR faux pas involves rice, specifically "Madani rice".

Last Wednesday, Bersatu renegade-turned-Cost of Living council boss Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Faisal said the government would be phasing out the local 'super spesial tempatan' (SST) and 'super spesial import' (SSI) white rice categories.

In its place, would be Malaysia Madani white rice, with industry players told to begin complying starting Monday (Feb 19) for a retail launch on March 1.

However, critics pointed out that the new Madani rice was more expensive, starting at RM3.50 for 1kg of rice compared to the RM2.60 maximum price for SST.

The government then had to clarify that it had not yet signed off on the Malaysia Madani white rice transition plan.

Syed Abu Hussin also admitted that he had jumped the gun.

A decision on the matter is expected this week.

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'Inclusive' Bumiputera congress

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has been lauded for assuring that the Bumiputera Economic Congress set to be held at the end of February will not be a monoethnic affair.

MCA senator Ti Lian Ker said it was a brave move towards creating a more inclusive government.

Anwar had said that Chinese and Indian representatives would be invited to attend the congress, and that solutions sought at the meet would be inclusive as well.

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Bersatu to plug loophole

Bersatu is expected to amend its party constitution to disqualify elected representatives who switch allegiances without leaving the party.

At present, six of its MPs are supporting Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim while remaining in Bersatu, effectively curtailing the anti-hopping law.

However, one of the turncoats said Bersatu's new rule can't apply retroactively to the six party members.

Previously, it was revealed that the reason the anti-hopping law loophole exists is because Bersatu objected to a clause that would disqualify MPs who go against their party.

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