Malaysia will implement four drastic intervention measures to reduce the people's woes on the price hike of imported rice and the rise in demand of local rice. Illustrative image (Photo: AP/VNA)Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Minister of the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry of Malaysia Mohamad Sabu said his ministry willimplement four drastic intervention measures to reduce the people's woes on theprice hike of imported rice and the rise in demand of local rice.
The decision was made following his meeting withPrime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the minister added.
Speaking at a press conference on October 3, the minister said that one of the intervention measures is theempowerment of local white rice distribution through the Federal AgriculturalMarketing Authority (Fama) which will be expanded by increasing distribution insuburban and rural areas. The government will be absorbing the price oflocal white rice from October 5 to enable it be obtained at a retail price of 31RM (6.55 USD) per 10kg in Sabah and Sarawak as production of local white rice thetwo localities is limited.
He said another intervention measure wasthe new procurement of rice under the government contract which would use localwhite rice. Malaysian government will also be launching the Integrated Special Task Force forthe Enforcement of White Rice Operations (OP BPT) involving the control of padiand rice (KPB), Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) enforcement, police,Royal Malaysian Customs Department and Malaysian Quarantine and InspectionServices Department (MAQIS).
The minister added that the integratedoperation will focus on inspection and enforcement at all levels of the localwhite rice supply chain.
He also reminded the public to keep calm andbuy rice according to their needs./.
