ALOR STAR: The Malay Rice Millers’ Association lauded the government’s move to reinstate the National Paddy and Rice Board (LPN) which they believe would protect food security in the country.
Its chairman Musonnef Md Radzi said the association had been discussing the issue over 10 years and it was high time for the government to reinstate the LPN’s role in order to monitor and control the paddy industry.
Musonnef said the government was the suitable body to look after the padi and rice production instead of Padiberas Nasional Berhad (Bernas) after it was privatised in 1995.
“Bernas has played the role of regulator and distributor for the country’s rice industry as well as to ensure the nation’s rowing rice demand be fulfilled through the management of the National Stockpile and the Padi Price Subsidy Scheme.
“However, since the privatisation of Bernas, most of the Malay Rice Millers’ Association had gone ‘bankrupt’ as Bernas solely looked for profit instead of its farmers’ welfare and the rice production,” he said here today.
Musonnef said the Bernas should have empowered Bumiputera farmers and rice distributions but everything went wrong since its privatisation.
“Citing an example, in 1985, a total of 103 Malay Rice Millers’ Association had registered but today, there are only 19 millers that are still operating.
“As such, this is about time for the government to review the board and Bernas functions in order to help the farmers as well as to scrutinise the padi industrial cycle,” he said.
He added that with the existence of the board, it could increase the padi yields and the country will achieve its goals which no longer rely on imported rice by 2020.
It was reported on June 6 that the Agriculture and Agro Based Industries Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob will bring the matter to the cabinet to reinstate the LPN in order to monitor the production of padi and rice.