KUALA LUMPUR – The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry will be launching Rahmah Rice Sales amid the price hike for imported rice and the shortage of local rice.
Deputy minister Fuziah Salleh said through the programme, consumers could obtain rice at subsidised prices via an RM150-million allocation passed by Parliament.
“Rice is a controlled item, for which (the ministry) has no authority to control its price,” she said. But she added that, due to public grouses, the ministry is seeking ways to deal with the price hike for imported rice and the shortage in the local supply.
She was winding up the debate of the mid-term review of the 12th Malaysia Plan for her ministry at the Dewan Rakyat today.
Apart from that, she said – with the country’s dependence on imported raw materials such as sugar and onions – the ministry has implemented a mechanism to control the price of such goods.
“Now, Malaysia is dependent on imported goods… we are tied with the source countries, for example when India stops exporting sugar and wants ro raise the export tax on onions, the moves will have an effect on our country.
“However, we will try our best to manage. For example we impose a ceiling price so that we can control the sugar price. Later, we control and subsidise in the case of eggs, grade A, B, C and D. Besides we also hold Rahmah Sales where we give discounts of between 10 to 30%,” she said. – September 18, 2023