Datuk Seri Wee Jeck Seng, a member of the BN-Tanjung Piai party, emphasized the need for Malaysia to find alternative sources to ensure sufficient rice supplies. He suggested that Malaysia could explore importing rice from countries like Vietnam, Thailand, and Pakistan, which are known for exporting rice. Wee stressed the urgency of addressing food security issues in Malaysia before the situation worsens.
He highlighted the impact of India's decision to halt its white rice exports, which has affected the entire Southeast Asian region. In light of this, Wee urged Malaysia to strengthen its position by diversifying its rice sources and looking beyond traditional suppliers. The price of imported white rice in Malaysia recently increased by 36%, reaching RM3,200 per metric tonne, according to the announcement made by Padiberas Nasional Bhd (Bernas). Bernas attributed this price increase to various factors, including climate change, the weakening foreign currency exchange rate, high operating costs, and regional conflicts.
These factors, combined with the ban on Indian rice exports, greatly affected the global rice trading market. Besides rice supplies, Wee also drew attention to inflation and the rising cost of goods. Despite Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's announcement of a 2% reduction in the country's inflation rate in early September compared to the previous year, Wee noted that this reduction did not correspond to a decrease in the price of goods and services.
He suggested that the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry take measures to control food prices, aiming to prevent sharp increases. Wee further highlighted the issue of urban poverty in Malaysia, referring to statistics from the Statistics Department, which showed a rise in urban poverty from 3.9% in 2019 to 4.6% in 2022. He expressed concern about this trend and urged the government to find effective solutions to address food security, inflation, and urban poverty.
In conclusion, Wee called for strategies to control inflation and alleviate the financial burden on the people. He emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts to overcome these challenges and ensure stability and prosperity for Malaysia. The Parliament is currently holding a special session for the mid-term review of the 12th Malaysia Plan, taking place from September 11 to September 19.
Source: Look at alternative source countries for rice supplies, says Tanjung Piai MP
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