MEMBERS of an association of restaurants, food operators and petty traders were given wholesale licences to buy imported white rice at RM160 per 50kg to help them control operating costs and ensure no further price hikes for the item, said the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry.

It said in a statement the move aimed to stabilise the supply of local white rice as the group members would purchase less of the local item for their businesses. 

“The ministry took this step to balance businesses’ and households’ need for rice during this period of high demand for local rice.

“An agreement was reached during an engagement session between the ministry and associations of restaurateurs, food operators and petty traders on September 15, 2023,” it said.

The ministry’s statement came after Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd managing director Ameer Ali Mydin expressed concern that issuing wholesale licences to restaurateurs could create a monopoly, and suggested raising the ceiling price of local rice to RM34 per 10kg, as reported by a news portal yesterday.

The ministry said the retail price of local rice was still RM2.60 per 1kg, as stated under the Rice (Grade and Price Control) Order (Amendment No.4) 2008 and Padi and Rice Control Act 1994.

The ministry on Sunday said it would issue wholesale licences to restaurateurs to buy imported white rice at RM3.20 per kilogramme from Bernas. Restaurateurs must submit an application to the ministry to obtain the licence. – Bernama, September 28, 2023.