KUALA LUMPUR: Any proposal to raise the ceiling price of local white rice will ensure fairness to all parties, including farmers, producers, traders and consumers, says Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.
The Agriculture and Food Security Minister said the current price of RM26 per 10kg has not been changed since 2008.
"If there is any increase, we have to discuss with the Economy Ministry, Finance Ministry as well as the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry to... be fair to all parties including the government and Opposition, who are also involved in this matter," he said in the Dewan Rakyat during Question Time on Thursday (Nov 16).
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Nurul Amin Hamid (PN-Padang Terap) had asked the ministry if the proposed increase in the ceiling price of local white rice would be done in stages, in view of the high cost of living.
Mohamad added that if the proposal is accepted, there is still a need for a comprehensive discussion with the Economy Ministry on the impact such changes would have on the people and the rice producers.
"Surely, the Finance Ministry will also be consulted. An intensive discussion is currently ongoing to get all the feedback, including from MPs – especially those from (rice-growing) areas," he said.
In recent months, there have been calls for the government to increase the ceiling price of local white rice to overcome a supply shortage.
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Mohamad also said the government was looking to establish a national stockpile of certified rice seeds to help address the issue of shortages in the market.
"We are planning to form a (stockpile) with at least 500,000 bags of rice seeds in case anything happens," he told Dr Ahmad Fakhruddin Fakhrurazi (PN-Kuala Kedah), who wanted to know about enforcement activities to curb price manipulation of rice seeds.
Ahmad Fakhruddin also asked about measures to ensure that farmers will have access to those seeds based on the controlled price.
Mohamad said the ministry had taken several measures to ensure an adequate supply of certified rice seeds, including the approval for 532,325 sacks to be made available in Kedah and Perlis.
Some 151,200 bags were produced on Oct 26, followed by 79,142 on Nov 3 and 112,260 on Nov 10, he said.
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The government was also expected to approve the production of 50,000 bags of seeds on Friday (Nov 17), of which 31,000 bags will be distributed to the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) and the remainder in Perlis and Kedah.
Other steps include setting up a task force to monitor rice seeds sales and compliance with government-set prices, as well as to prevent hoarding.
