THE government has been urged to reinstate the subsidy for local white rice (Beras Putih Tempatan, BPT), which officially ended yesterday, amid growing concerns over the rising cost of living.
Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal, who chairs the food cluster of the National Action Council on Cost of Living (NACCOL), said the government had set a six-month period, from 1 March until 31 August, to gradually release 24 million subsidised 10-kilogramme packs of BPT into the market.
"The government, particularly the Prime Minister and the Minister of Agriculture, must reconsider the subsidy policy to avoid burdening the people," he said.
“If this subsidy is removed, I fear the price of local white rice will no longer be controllable. But if it is maintained, the public can still access rice priced between RM26 and RM30 per 10kg pack.”
He added that imported rice from Pakistan currently costs around RM1,400 per metric tonne, arguing that the continuation of subsidised BPT remains economically viable.
Syed Abu Hussin was speaking at a press conference following a Merdeka-themed “Datuk Syed Budget Sale” programme at the Bukit Gantang parliamentary service centre in Kampung Benggali, near Changkat Jering in Perak. - Sept 1, 2025
