Malaysia: PM wants frequent monitoring, and enforcement to address local white rice shortage

Rice

Malaysia

Regulation & Compliances

Market & Price Trends

Published Mar 22, 2024

Tridge summary

Malaysia's Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, has urged for enhanced monitoring and enforcement to tackle the local white rice shortage in the market. Despite having 150,000 tonnes of local white rice for distribution, it is insufficient to meet the demand. To mitigate this, the government has lowered the retail prices of imported white rice, leading to a drop in market prices. Anwar reassured that the government will continue to refine its assistance and subsidies to ensure they reach those most in need.

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Original content

PUTRAJAYA (March 21): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wants more frequent monitoring and enforcement to be carried out to address the shortage of local white rice in the market. Anwar, who is also the finance minister, said the monitoring and enforcement approaches also require changes to ensure a more effective distribution of local white rice. “I personally have heard concerns raised by traders regarding the shortage of local white rice,” he said at the Ministry of Finance’s assembly here on Thursday. On the recent Special Meeting of the National Action Council on Cost of Living (Naccol), Anwar said the government’s firmness in addressing issues of rice prices and supplies had been evident, leading to a decrease in market prices of imported white rice. “Alhamdulillah, the prices have dropped by RM3, or by RM2 at some places. Basically, [it's] between RM2 and RM3, and that’s a lot for buyers and regular consumers,” he said. Regarding the shortage of local white rice in ...

Source: Theedgemarkets