KUALA LUMPUR: Agriculture and Food Security Ministry will implement four drastic intervention measures to reduce the people's woes on the price hike of imported rice and the rise in demand of local rice.
Its minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said the decision was made following a meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
"One of the intervention measures is the empowerment of local white rice distribution through the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) which will be expanded by increasing distribution in suburban and rural areas.
"In the context of Sabah and Sarawak, the government will be absorbing the price of local white rice from Oct 5 to enable it be obtained at a retail price of RM31 per 10kg.
"This is because the production of local white rice in Sabah and Sarawak is limited."
Mohamad said another intervention measure was the new procurement of rice under the government contract which would use local white rice.
"All suppliers will use local rice by obtaining supplies at a wholesale price of RM3,200 (warehouse price) in 50kg bags subject to conditions and regulations that have been set. This is to give priority to the supply of rice to the people.
"We will also be launching the Integrated Special Task Force for the Enforcement of White Rice Operations (OP BPT) involving the control of padi and rice (KPB), Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) enforcement, police, Royal Malaysian Customs Department and Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (MAQIS)," he said at a special conference here.
Mohamad added that the integrated operation will focus on inspection and enforcement at all levels of the local white rice supply chain.
"Rice samples will also be taken at all rice mills, wholesale warehouses and supermarkets for chemical analysis to ensure there is no manipulation of the commodity."
He also reminded the public to keep calm and buy rice according to their needs.