KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Competition Commission (MyCC) has completed its report into cartel and monopoly activities involving the rice and padi industry in the country, the Dewan Rakyat heard today.
Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Deputy Minister Fuziah Salleh said, however, she could not divulge more information about the findings until the official report was issued.
"The MyCC has completed its report on the padi and rice cartel, but I cannot elaborate on it further until the official report is released.
"But for now, this issue has been resolved" she said.
She added that the MyCC report may reveal the abuse of power by companies in dominant positions that control supplies related to the rice and padi industry.
Fuziah was responding to a supplementary question from Datuk Seri Dr Shahidan Kassim (PN-Arau) who wanted to know the actions taken by the government against cartel and monopoly activities, which he claimed had affected the prices of raw materials and essential food items.
It was previously reported that the MyCC would present the study involving the rice and padi industry in the country to the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry by the end of September.
MyCC chief executive officer Iskandar Ismail said the report would then be presented to the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry.
On Sept 14, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had called for an end to the old practice of procuring seeds and fertilisers through cartels and monopolies.
He said ending this required political will and decisive action from the minister in charge.
On a separate matter, Fuziah said the ministry would improve the special discount card for the Rahmah Menu initiative, to encourage more food operators to participate in the programme.
The card, she said, was introduced last November to provide discounts to Rahmah Menu operators so they could buy essential cooking items at reduced prices.
"However, we found that there were issues because supermarkets offering discounts were using different systems.
"So, to address this problem, besides purchasing at selected supermarkets, we are now offering discounts to Rahmah Menu operators to buy raw materials at Rahmah Sales programmes where they are allowed to purchase items such as chicken.
"Perhaps, for example, if previously they could only buy one, (with the discount card) now they can buy more," she said in response to a supplementary question from Datuk Mohd Isam Mohd Isa.
The Barisan Nasional member of Parliament for Tampin had asked for updates on the Rahmah Menu initiative which he said had lost its momentum, with many businesses allegedly being no longer interested in continuing it.