THE government should raise the ceiling price of local white rice to RM34 per 10kg to tackle the shortage of the commodity, Mydin hypermarket managing director Ameer Ali Mydin said.

Free Malaysia Today reported that Ameer said millers were discouraged by the current low ceiling price of RM26 per 10kg.

“This (proposal) will improve cost structures for producers and help alleviate the shortage. It’s a better solution,” he was quoted as saying by the news portal.

Yesterday, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu said the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for granting licences to restaurant owners to enable them to buy imported white rice at wholesale prices from Padiberas Nasional Bhd (Bernas) would be detailed.

He said his ministry via the Padi and Rice Regulation Office would meet stakeholders regarding the SOPs for granting wholesale licences.

“Restaurant owners will be offered the wholesale price to buy imported white rice so that they do not focus only on local white rice for food sales and also as a short-term measure to overcome the shortage of local rice in the market,” he said.

On September 24, the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry reportedly decided to give wholesale licences to restaurant owners to purchase imported white rice at a wholesale price of RM3.20 per kg from Bernas. The various associations of restaurant owners would need to submit an application to the ministry to obtain the licences.

Ameer said it was unfair to allow restaurant operators to buy imported rice at the wholesale price  from Bernas.

“Solutions must be simple, fair and (should not) lead to abuse. We don’t want another monopoly,” he said.

Ameer also said the government should come out with a detailed plan on the implementation of this move.

He questioned how food operators will be given preferential pricing with stalls all over the country.

“What about the canteen operators and small traders, like those who offer the Menu Rahmah?” he said referring to the RM5 set meal initiative introduced earlier this year to help reduce the cost of living.

He also questioned how the government will maintain the RM3.20 per kg price tag on imported white rice, while local rice is already priced at RM3.10 per kg.

Ameer said it could become a “logistical nightmare” as big distributors normally deliver to wholesalers and shops, and not directly to restaurants. – September 27, 2023.