OPPOSITION MPs launched a petition today calling on Malaysia’s sole rice distributor Padiberas Nasional Bhd (Bernas) to cease any legal action against Padi Rescue, a coalition critical of Bernas.

The petition is backed by 83 Pakatan Harapan, PAS and PSM representatives and two independents.

“It is the right of Malaysians to scrutinise the performance and public role of Bernas, which was established to take over the functions of LPN (National Paddy and Rice Board) in regulating and managing the national rice industry since 1994.

“We condemn the actions taken by Bernas to intimidate and silence Padi Rescue,” opposition parliamentary leader Wan Azizah Wan Ibrahim (PKR-Permatang Pauh) told reporters at the Parliament media room.

Bernas issued a legal notice to Padi Rescue last month, threatening to take the coalition of rice farmers to court for defamation.

Padi Rescue, also known as Badan Bertindak Selamatkan Industri Padi dan Beras, earned the wrath of Bernas for delivering a memorandum to Prime Minister Najib Razak last month urging Najib to rescue the rice industry by re-establishing LPN. 

The company has demanded Padi Rescue retract its statements in the memorandum and is also seeking damages from rice farmers.

Wan Azizah said the government should step in and stop Bernas from taking further legal action against Padi Rescue.

Gooi Hsiao Leung (PKR-Alor Star), also present at the press conference, said they backed Padi Rescue’s call to re-establish LPN.

“What Padi Resuce has done is nothing new. Stakeholders in the rice industry has long demanded LPN be re-established, including MPs from both side of the political divide.

“Rice is an essential food item. It’s an industry that should never be controlled, monopolised or profited by any single individual or company,” said Gooi.

He added copies of the petition have been circulated to BN MPs but none has sign up. – November 29, 2017.