THE Federal Agricultural Marketing Board (FAMA) was directed by the Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu to intervene in the marketing of Local White Rice (BPT) after reports of shortage of supply in several states.“For this rice, we ask FAMA to interfere like egg and chicken interference. If there is any shortage, FAMA will be involved and we are taking this matter seriously now,” said Mohamad in a media release.The intervention is to ensure that there is no longer a shortage of BPT supply in the country. The local rice will be made available at the FAMA Operation Center as well as FAMA retail outlets, said the minister.According to Mohamad, the BPT intervention involves 12 states in Peninsular Malaysia with 35 Operation Centers and a distribution of 400,000 kg or 400 metric tons.BPT will also, he said be distributed at 416 FAMA retail outlets and 11 FAMA Corporation marketing outlets.In a political rally today, Perikatan Nasional (PN) supporters shouted that the price of rice is rising and that is making it too expensive for some.On the other hand, a group of food traders, including budget rice vendors, said they are now considering the increase in their selling price due to the recent increase in the price of local rice.Many are complaining through social media that the price of food is rising because of the price of rice. Now traders are complaining and saying that they could no longer bear the rising operating costs. – Sept 16, 2023
Main photo credit: New Straits Times
