THE Bumiputera Retailers Organisation is sceptical about Putrajaya’s claim that local white rice supply would stabilise within a month after government intervention.

Its president Ameer Ali Mydin told The Malaysian Insight he was doubtful if the government could achieve this within one month.

“The industry has also complained that they do not have stock and are not getting supplied by mills and wholesalers.

“This has been going on for more than three months and it has reached a critical stage. Where is the rice coming from?

“I doubt they (government) will be able to solve this problem anytime soon,” he said.

Ameer who is also Mydin hypermarket managing director said the harvest period has just started this month and it will go on till next month.

“Even with an excellent harvest, will we be able to solve the issue?”

Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu had said they expect the supply of local white rice to stabilise within a month following various interventions by the government.

He said engagement sessions with the country’s rice industry players – manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers – concluded with a commitment to implement the Local White Rice Special Programme nationwide.

“Through the programme, suppliers will increase production of local white rice by 20% for the domestic market for one year.

“We will also intervene whenever there is a shortage in supply through the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority and the Farmers’ Organisations Authority.”

Mohamad said farmers’ outlets would sell 2,000 rice packets, priced at RM26 for a 10kg packet.

He also said there was enough stockpiled rice in the country to last up to five months.

He said currently there are 900,000 million metric tonnes, which comprises 250,000 million metric tonnes of government stockpile and 650,000 metric tonnes of commercial stock.

“This is enough for the next four to five months and the domestic market was also expected to recover in a month.”

He also said locally produced rice can only cater to about 65% of the country’s needs or 1.7 million tonnes a year. The remaining supply is imported from Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Bangladesh and India.

Ameer said the issue of rice shortage will not be resolved until the government looks into the issue of price control.

“The government must know that price control does not work. Remove it to ensure availability.

“The administration should also look into taking care of the B40 group by giving more Rahmah cash aid.”

He also said that the government has to be clear and transparent on what the real situation is on the ground.

“We are not blaming the government because it is a global crisis. But, inform the people and be transparent.”

Ameer also alleged that there could be leakages in the supply of rice.

“Even if we (the industry) increase production the difference of price – RM26 per kg for local and RM39 for imported rice – is still there.

“We have porous borders. There might be leakages to other countries as our prices are cheap.

“Another issue that needs to be looked into is the repackaging of local rice to imported rice. This needs to be addressed.” – September 21, 2023.