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By Mihar Dias February 2025
When billionaire Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary pledged RM30 million to struggling padi farmers, many saw it as an act of generosity. https://newswav.com/A2502_xyJdBA?s=A_eOvYnkK&language=en
Yet, in Malaysia, where business and politics are deeply entwined, one must ask—was this genuine philanthropy or strategic self-preservation?
Through BERNAS, Syed Mokhtar controls Malaysia’s rice import monopoly, profiting from the very farmers he now claims to help.
Last year, amid mounting criticism, BERNAS was pressured to contribute RM60 million to farmers. https://newswav.com/A2502_xyJdBA?s=A_eOvYnkK&language=en
Now, another RM30 million follows—another crisis, another “donation.” Is this charity or just a business expense to maintain goodwill?
Bandaid for Farmers, Not a Cure
Padi farmers have long been struggling with rising costs and stagnant incomes. The recent floor price increase from RM1,300 to RM1,500 per tonne is a minor improvement but hardly a game-changer. https://newswav.com/A2502_xyJdBA?s=A_eOvYnkK&language=en
Farmers remain burdened by debt, middlemen exploitation, and unpredictable weather.
If the government truly wanted to help, it would implement structural reforms—breaking BERNAS’s monopoly, increasing subsidies, or investing in sustainable farming. Instead, it relies on handouts from corporate tycoons.
If Syed Mokhtar can spare RM30 million so easily, doesn’t that indicate how much profit is being extracted from the rice industry?
Political Leverage in the MADANI Era
Anwar Ibrahim’s government, under its “MADANI” branding, is eager to showcase this donation as proof of its commitment to the rakyat. https://newswav.com/A2502_xyJdBA?s=A_eOvYnkK&language=en
But should a government that collects taxes and controls national resources really depend on a single businessman’s generosity?
The timing is also convenient. With food security under scrutiny and BERNAS’s monopoly a constant target, this “gift” keeps regulators at bay while maintaining control over the rice supply chain. It’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) used as a political shield.
Who Gains the Most?
RM30 million may provide temporary relief, but in the grand scheme, it’s a drop in the ocean compared to the billions generated from Malaysia’s rice market. Farmers get momentary aid, but Syed Mokhtar strengthens his grip on both the agricultural and political landscape.
If Malaysia truly wants to uplift farmers, it must move beyond billionaire handouts and push for long-term policy changes. Until then, these “donations” will remain more about optics than real reform.
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