KUALA LUMPUR – The National Cost of Living Action Council (Naccol) will meet and finalise the control prices for rice next week, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim amid confusion over the Madani white rice proposal.
“We postponed the Naccol meeting to next week, where we will make a final decision on the price controls for rice.
“Although it (the prices) cannot be too low, I’m confident they can be reduced if we look into the supplies, who the contractors are and how much profit they make,” he said during the Madani Cheapest Sale event in Bandar Perda, Bukit Mertajam, today.
He also warned the “middlemen” against profiteering, as this would cause prices to soar.
This came after Naccol chairman Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal said the Malaysia Madani white rice would be the sole category of white rice as Putrajaya agreed to abolish the import (SSI) and local rice (SST) categories.
He also said the RM30 per 10kg bag ceiling price would take effect on February 19, while the product was expected to hit the market on March 1.
However, a source told Scoop yesterday that the Madani white rice was a proposal by Syed Hussin to have a single grade of white rice with a fixed price.
The source added that Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu will make a statement on the matter after he comes back from an official visit to Iran on February 23.
“After the minister is back from Iran, the ministry will hold an engagement session with stakeholders and industry players to get their views on the proposal. This comes after some of the players were not happy with the suggestion.
“The setting of ceiling prices for rice must go through the agriculture and food security minister or the Kawalselia Padi dan Beras director-general through the Rice Control Act 1994 (Act 522).
“Syed Hussin can advise the government but is pending Putrajaya’s nod.”
Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd managing director Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin, meanwhile, has demanded an explanation of Syed Hussin’s policy. – February 16, 2024