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By Mihar Dias (C) Copyright June 2023
Political parties have been cautioned by various heads of state and relevant authorities against discussing the sensitive 3R of race, religion, and royalty during their campaigns for the upcoming state elections.
However, another set of 3R—rice, Ringgit, and rakyat—is waiting to be addressed by all parties. These are equally sensitive issues under current economic circumstances.
The price of rice, a staple in our diet, is as sensitive as race and religion, and it must be handled with great care to avoid troubling the rakyat, the people.
Ameer Ali Mydin, the managing director of Mydin hypermarket, has stated that the retail price of a 10kg bag of imported white rice will increase by at least RM1 in July. This increase comes on top of last month's price hike of between RM1 and RM2 per bag for imported white rice.
Ameer Ali Mydin attributed the price increase to the weakening of the ringgit, as well as other rising costs such as electricity and labour expenses.
The declining value of the ringgit is of no help to rice importers. While it may benefit exporters like palm oil producers, it poses a significant challenge for rice importers.
Consequently, all imported commodities will reach higher prices than they have in years. The exchange rate of the ringgit to the US dollar is approaching RM5 and is likely to breach 4.6 or 4.7 in the coming weeks.
If you thought the prohibited 3R issues were sensitive, wait until the government introduces the planned price adjustments for chickens and eggs in July. Additionally, the price of rice continues to rise, and electricity rates are being increased as well.
The rakyat is highly sensitive to the falling value of the ringgit and the escalating prices of commodities, particularly the increase in the price of rice.
While the average pedestrian on the street may tolerate hikes in petrol prices or a depreciating ringgit, they can not ignore the impact of rising prices on essential commodities like rice and eggs.
Regardless of who governs the country, the rakyat will not be pleased when they go hungry without access to rice and eggs. As the saying goes, "The hungry man is an angry man!"
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