ALOR STAR: The Consumer Association of Kedah (Cake) has urged the government to explain loopholes in the Madani white rice scheme announced by the National Action Council for Cost of Living (NACCOL) yesterday.
Its president Yusrizal Yusoff said the government should provide more details regarding the RM30 price tag for 10kg packaging following the move to eliminate the classification of local white rice (SST) and imported white rice (SSI) categories.
He raised the concern as locally produced white rice production that is subsidised by the government has superior quality as compared to the imported white rice.
"Local white rice and imported white rice are not equal in terms of quality. We have been receiving reports of the inferior quality of some imported white rice.
"Thus, the question regarding this Madani white rice scheme, is whether these two types of rice are mixed or separated.
"If that is the case, the consumers will not be given an option to choose a higher quality rice under the scheme.
"This is because imported rice may contain grains that are stale, and historically, there have been reports of consumers receiving poor quality rice or even plastic rice.
"Imported white rice prices range from RM3.20 to RM3.80 per kilogramme, while (subsidised) local white rice is priced at RM2.60 per kilogramme. If they are mixed, we do not know if imported rice will also be subsidised," he told reporters after inspecting the supply of white rice at Pasar Besar Alor Star here today.
Rizal aired his concern that the Madani white rice initiative provides only a short-term solution to the ongoing local white rice supply crisis, which has been affecting consumers since September last year.
Yusrizal also questioned whether price control mechanisms under the Control of Padi and Rice Act 1994 would be revised due to the elimination of SST and SSI categories.
"We also do not know if the price of RM30 per package will remain constant in the long run. Consumers are worried that there may be further price increases in the future," he added.
Yesterday, NACCOL food cluster task force chairman Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Faisal announced the introduction of the Malaysia Madani white rice.
He was reported saying there will no longer be local white rice (SST) and imported white rice (SSI) categories, adding that the Malaysia Madani white rice will be the sole category.
The Bukit Gantang Member of Parliament said between Feb 19 and March 1 rice industry players can make adjustments and sell rice in old packaging until all wholesalers' stocks are sold out.
Meanwhile on a related development, Yusrizal raised concerns over the floor price for padi purchase, set at RM1,300 per metric tonnes, that could disrupt the local white rice supply.
"The floor price for padi purchase is set at RM1,300 per metric tonnes, but the Malaysian Padi Farmers Brotherhood Organisation (Pesawah) claims it is insufficient due to increasing cultivation and harvesting costs. We hope these issues will be addressed as they might affect our national white rice yield," he added.
Commenting further, Yusrizal urged the government to bolster initiatives to enhance people's income, particularly by raising minimum wage rates.
"As it stands, the rice we purchase is among the cheapest globally, but our income hasn't increased accordingly. Hence, we are calling for the government to increase the people's income by raising the minimum wage and spurring the economy. Insha Allah, consumers won't feel burdened," he added.