KUALA LUMPUR – The government does not plan to stop non-citizens from buying local rice despite the current rice shortage, said the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry.
“Foreigners have to eat, too,” said its minister, Mohamad Sabu.
He told the Dewan Rakyat that migrant workers also played a role in the country’s development and that the shortage of local rice was due to panic buying after the recent price hike of imported rice.
Melaka rural development, agriculture and food security committee chairman Dr Akmal Saleh had earlier suggested that the government restrict the purchase of local rice to Malaysians only.
Mohamad said when the price of imported rice increased, traders began looking for local rice, resulting in an increasing demand and a shortage.
He also told the Dewan Rakyat that the ministry was confident the current shortage of local rice would be over in a month.
Mohamad said intervention measures taken to overcome the shortage of local rice, including the implementation of the Local White Rice Operation, would address the issue.
He added that the country’s current rice supply stock is 900,000 metric tonnes. This consists of 250,000 metric tonnes of stock reserves and 650,000 metric tonnes of trade stock. – The Vibes, September 18, 2023
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