ALOR SETAR: The Malay Rice Millers Association met today to ask the government to help Malay rice millers in the country from shutting down.
Its chairman Mohamad Temmizi Yop said one ways the government could help was by giving them a 30 per cent AP.
“Malay rice millers can close down by 2021 if the government does not help us.
“We are asking the government to give Malay rice millers a 30 per cent AP so we can make a turn around,” he told a press conference at their office here today.
The association which represents eight Malay rice mills in the country said their business could not compete with other big rice mills.
The association was also currently embroiled in a court case with them needing to settle debts worth over RM100 million that had accumulated since 1996.
“We are certain that by getting the AP quota, we can turn everything around within two years and also settle the debts.
“We would like to request a meeting with the Agriculture Minister to hear our plans and help us prove ourselves so the eight rice mills owned 100 per cent Bumiputera can also be successful,” he said.
He also assured the government that they were not asking for the quotas so they can sell the AP in an Ali Baba like scam.
“The government can trust us; If we cannot make a turn around, we will return the AP quotas willingly,” he said.