JOHOR BARU: The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry conducted checks to ensure sufficient stock of rice and that retailers were selling it at government-controlled local prices, at the Giant Hypermarket in Tampoi, near here, today.
Minister Datuk Seri Mohammad Sabu, or popularly known as Mat Sabu, said proactive steps were taken to inspect food security stock on the ground, particularly rice as it is the staple food for Malaysians.
"In light of claims that there is minimal availability, the ministry is conducting checks nationwide to ensure that government-controlled local white rice (known as BPT) supply priced at RM2.60 per kilogram is available in the market," he said, adding the controlled price was instated since 2008.
Mat Sabu said the checks conducted today revealed that there was sufficient local rice stocked in the hypermarket.
He urged the people not to worry, refrain from panic buying and storing rice, as there was enough for everyone.
Mat Sabu said the ministry had taken intervention measures in order to ensure sufficient supply by increasing the rice production quota by more than 20 per cent.
Part of the ministry's intervention efforts are in the form of a dedicated programme called Special BPT Programme, which is aimed to ensure local white rice supply is restored within a month.
The ministry will also conduct a Budget 2024 dialogue session with industry players and rice subsector stakeholders on Thursday, at the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute in Serdang, Selangor.
The ministry and the domestic trade and consumer affairs ministry will also jointly conduct ground checks under Ops Jamin to ensure stocks were not misappropriated.
Ops BPT is focused on inspections and enforcement at rice mills and wholesalers nationwide.
Those who are found in violation of the Padi and Rice Control Act 1994 (Act 522), could have their licenses suspended or terminated.