THE Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry will be launching the Rahmah rice sale to help lighten the people’s burden over the price hike of imported rice as well as the absence of local rice.
Its deputy minister, Fuziah Salleh, said through the programme, consumers can obtain rice at a subsidised price via an RM150 mil allocation passed by Parliament.
“Rice is a controlled item which the ministry has no authority to control its price. But today we keep hearing the people’s grouses, so the ministry seeks ways to resolve the issue of imported rice price increase and why local rice supply has allegedly run out,” she said.
Fuziah was winding up her debate of the 12th Malaysia Plan mid-term review at the Dewan Rakyat today.
Apart from that, she said the ministry is aware of the country’s dependence on imported raw materials such as sugar and onions and has thus implemented a mechanism to control the price of such goods to alleviate the people’s burden.
“Now, Malaysia is dependent on imported goods… we are tied with the source countries, for example, when India stops exporting sugar and wants to raise onion export tax, this 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 for eggs – grade A, B, C and D. Besides we also hold Rahmah sales where we give discounts of between 10% and 30%,” she added. – Sept 18, 2023
Main pic credit: Bernama
