PUTRAJAYA – The government has set a ceiling price for local rice at both the producer and wholesale level effective June 16 as an immediate measure to ensure the market price remains stable and under control.
The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry said that all licensed commercial padi factories and rice wholesalers are required to comply with the ceiling price in accordance with a letter issued on the matter on June 16.
The ceiling price for Local Super Special 5% (SST5) at retail level is set at RM2.60/kg as contained under the provisions of the Padi and Rice Act 1994, while the price of imported white rice is not controlled by the government, the ministry said – refuting claims by Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd managing director Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin that prices would go up by RM1 or RM2 for 10kg of rice next month.
The ministry said that the price of imported white rice at the retail level was currently at RM32 and below for every 10kg bag, which was the normal market price, subject to demand, adding that the market price of rice was stable as the selling price for 70% of local rice was controlled by the government.
Monitoring was also being conducted at retail and wholesale levels throughout the country to ensure that the price and supply of rice was always stable, the ministry assured. – Bernama, June 23, 2023
