Bernas' rice-import monopoly to end soon

Updated 5 years ago · Published on 6 Jun 2018 8:59PM · 3 Comments

Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Salahuddin Ayub says monopolies only enrich certain crony companies. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, June 6, 2018.

THE monopoly of the Syed Mokhtar al-Bukhary-owned Bernas to import rice will end soon, as the reform mood sweeps through the Pakatan Harapan government.

The cabinet has agreed to terminate Syarikat Padi Beras Nasional’s three to four-decade stranglehold on rice imports, Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Salahuddin Ayub was quoted as saying by Astro Awani.

“Cabinet has agreed to end Bernas’ monopoly after hearing the arguments in support of it,” the minister was quoted as saying.

All other forms of monopolies will also be reviewed to see if they should be retained or broken up, he said.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad also directed Salahuddin to prepare a memorandum to the cabinet on the proposed methods to break up Bernas’ monopoly.

“I have also instructed the ministry’s secretary-general to inform all of our departments to identify several rice import models used in other countries,” Salahuddin said.

A committee will also be formed to advise the government on the matter before the final memorandum on dismantling the monopoly is tabled to the cabinet.

The move to end monopolies is to avoid enriching certain crony companies, he was quoted as saying by Malay daily Berita Harian last month. – June 6, 2018.

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Comments

  • I thought we were all changing to eating Quinoa? What about the Quinoa monopoly?

    Posted 5 years ago by Bigjoe Lam · Reply

  • WOW!!! Even Tun's own crony himself NOT spared !!!

    Posted 5 years ago by Malaysian First · Reply

  • What about car AP?
    For TOO long WE have being paying high prices so as to
    Protect local assembled cars !!

    Posted 5 years ago by Brook Kam · Reply