Kota Kinabalu: Sabah should be given the right to import and export rice as what Sabah used to do before 1982, said Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) Deputy President Japiril Suhaimin.
“Now that the rice monopoly has been broken, Sabah should get back its rights.
“Bernas is reported to control 30.6 per cent of the local rice market and also import rice from Thailand and Myanmar to meet local demand.
“The company was originally the National Padi and Rice Board which was corporatised and privatised in the 1990s.
“It is timely to give back the right to import and export rice to Sabah. Sabah must take control of rice import to avoid monopoly by Bernas,” he said in a statement.
The Sabah Padi Board (Lembaga Padi Sabah) was set up in 1965 and started operating in 1967. It was closed down in 1981.
Japiril said reviving the Sabah Padi Board would surely give new life to paddy farmers in Sabah.
He said the Federal Government should adopt an open policy on rice imports, which will benefit Malaysians, as the price of the staple food can be reduced by at least 50 per cent.
“The Government must end the monopoly and issue licences to other companies so that there is a healthy competition in the import of rice.
“This will make the rakyat (people) happier. The Bernas issue has been going on for years and it should be solved.
“Bernas’ concession as the country’s sole rice importer is unfair. There should be a review and the Government should not extend Bernas’ monopoly concession.
“Bernas has been making billions of ringgit in profits since 2018. Bernas’ accumulated profits in 2018 was RM1.2 billion, RM1.3 billion in 2019 and RM798 million in 2020,” he said.
He said before become Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had previously criticised the then government for its decision to extend Bernas’ concession period, which gave it the power to monopolise rice imports.
“As Anwar is now the Prime Minister, his Government could review the permit given to Bernas,” he said.
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