ALOR STAR: Retail prices of imported white rice in hypermarkets and grocery stores here have dropped following price revisions by Padiberas Nasional Bhd (Bernas).
Checks at hypermarkets in the city found that prices of various imported white rice varieties such as Fragrant Thai, Basmati, and Super Special Import (SSI) have reduced by RM2 to RM3 per 10kg pack.
Alor Mengkudu Mydin branch manager Muhamad Waliyuddin Abd Aziz confirmed that the price adjustments for imported rice at the hypermarket took effect yesterday.
"We have also displayed the previous prices for transparency to shoppers," he said today.
The store offered 10kg packets of SSI priced at RM36.49, from RM39.49, and Basmati priced at RM56.39, from RM61.90.
However, there was no local white rice, sold at RM26 per 10kg pack, in the store.
Shopper Shafie Md Ali, 57, who was looking for local white rice, settled with imported rice.
Shafie said he appreciated the lower prices of imported white rice.
"It's hard to find large companies willing to slash prices.
"I hope the government would help ensure the supply of local white rice as well," said the odd jobber.
Another shopper, Che Puteh Abdullah, 73, was happy with the new prices as she said she often bought SSI rice variants for her family.
"At last, prices of rice has gone down, I usually buy imported white rice so this is good news for me," said the retired public servant.
Consumers Association of Kedah (Cake) president Yusrizal Yusoff said that checks at smaller grocery stores in the state showed compliance with the price changes.
He said that stores had also reduced the prices of old imported white rice stocks.
However, Yusrizal expressed concern over the continued lack of local white rice supply in stores nationwide.
"So far, we have not found any local rice in our checks."
Yesterday, it was reported that Padiberas Nasional Bhd (Bernas) had revised the price of imported white rice, reducing it to RM3,000 from RM3,200 per tonne.