Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has warned rice hoarders if they are found to do so will be taken to court, he had given instructions to the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu to ensure that the Ministry’s enforcement agencies monitor the matter and take action against offenders.
Anwar said he was aware there is a rice shortage due to under-supply which is causing the prices to go up, he said even Indonesia has an issue with President Jokowi raising the matter up, due to supply cuts by the 18 countries that always supply rice. However, the Prime Minister was clearly irked by local suppliers who hoarded the staple in hopes of selling them at higher prices for better profits. He warned those who practice such acts as bad behavior and will seek them out and sue them.
Malaysia is experiencing an unprecedented problem of rice shortage leaving the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security stepping up efforts to introduce four additional intervention measures to deal with the issue of rice supply in the country. Among them was the launch of the Special Integrated Task Force for the Enforcement of White Rice Operations (OP BPT).
Anwar who is also the Minister of Finance said the government is trying to resolve the rice issue but at the same time admits it will take some time. “We are trying, but can we achieve 100 percent? No, this rice is an issue, a serious problem, so I said give it a week to see how it is, if it is not resolved yet, we will discuss it again before the 2024 Budget on Oct 13.
