BENTONG, Sept 22 — The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) has started selling imported rice at ‘Rahmah’ prices in every Rahmah Sales programme nationwide.
Acting minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said beginning today, consumers will be able to get five kilogrammes (kg) of imported rice at a price not exceeding RM15 and a 10kg bag at a price below RM30, at any Rahmah Sales programme in their area.
This was decided at the National Action Council on Cost of Living (Naccol) meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yesterday, as a measure to deal with the temporary disruption of local rice supply and the increase in the price of imported rice.
“The price of imported rice offered is cheaper than what is sold in the market which is usually priced at RM35 to RM40 and more, for the retail sector.
“This is our effort to help the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry (MAFS) deal with the issue of lack of local rice supply and the increase in the price of imported rice in the market. This a short-term measure; we believe MAFS has mid and long-term solutions,” he said.
Armizan was speaking at a press conference during the Rahmah Sales Programme at Dataran Simpang Pelangai earlier today, which was also attended by Pahang Consumer Affairs and Human Resources Committee Chairman Sim Chon Siang.
He said the decision to sell imported rice at Rahmah prices at the sales was taken to prevent the programme, which is held in all state constituencies across the country, from disrupting the supply of local rice in the market.
“So let us source imported rice but sell it at Rahmah prices, we do not want to cause more disruption to the supply of local rice in the retail sector,” Armizan said.
At the Naccol meeting on Wednesday (September 20), the minister had put forward a proposal related to the ‘extension of authority’ (extension of enforcement) on KPDN enforcement in matters related to rice to help deal with supply issues.
“We believe this proposal should be considered, we want to help (deal with the rice issue), (however) KPKM will decide any decision related to that,” Armizan said.
— Bernama
