BENTONG: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today warned that legal action will be taken against quarters found hiding local rice stock.
He said the government would take stern action against those who have the audacity to do this when consumers around the country were facing shortages.
"There are some quarters who are willing to act in such a manner while the country is experiencing white rice shortage in order to gain some profit.
"There are those who misuse, hide, keep (the rice supplies)... I have given Mat Sabu(Agriculture and Food Security Ministry Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu) clear instructions to order the enforcement agencies (to act).
"If there are those who misbehave in such a manner... we will find you and bring you to court. You want to gain profit when others are facing hardship," he said during the "Mega Perpaduan Madani" ceramah at Dataran Simpang Pelangai here today.
Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman and Umno president, Amanah president Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu and Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, who is the Pahang BN chairman and DAP central executive committee member Young Syefura Othmanm who is the Bentong member of parliament.
Earlier, Anwar said the government will provide subsidy amounting to RM400 million to allow the use of imported rice at government premises such as hospitals, army camps and school hostels, thus allowing a higher availability of local white rice in the market.