-min.png)
Umno Youth chief, Akmal Saleh, vehemently opposes the proposed introduction of "Madani rice," a scheme aiming to amalgamate local and imported rice under a single category. In a Facebook video, Akmal argues that this proposal, championed by Bukit Gantang MP Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz, primarily benefits businesses already dominating the rice market, labeling it as deceptive.
Expressing concerns, Akmal contends that if Madani rice is embraced, traders might discontinue selling local white rice priced at RM26, opting for the more profitable alternative priced at RM30. He asserts that the proposal could adversely impact the sale of local white rice, potentially exacerbating existing shortages.
Akmal accuses the government of inadvertently aiding "cartels" by endorsing the amalgamation of local and imported white rice. He asserts that implementing Madani rice might lead to a scarcity of local white rice in the market, exacerbating existing shortages.
Instead, Akmal advocates for a focus on improving local rice production, urging the government to resist supporting cartels and imposing additional burdens on the people. In his view, the emphasis should be on enhancing the quality and availability of locally produced rice.
The Madani rice concept was introduced by Syed Abu, a Bersatu MP who diverged from his party's stance to express support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's government. As the chairman of the Task Force (Food Cluster) in the National Cost of Living Action Council (NACCOL), Syed Abu proposed consolidating local and imported white rice into a single category known as Malaysian Madani White Rice.
Additionally, the proposal outlines ceiling prices for white rice, with rates set at RM30 for a 10kg bag, RM15.50 for a 5kg bag, and RM3.50 for 1kg packs. The NACCOL is scheduled to convene this week to make decisions on rice price controls, as announced by Anwar on February 16.
While Malaysia produces rice, domestic production falls short of meeting demand, a situation exacerbated by a global rice shortage initiated by India, the world's largest producer, limiting rice exports since July 2023. As the nation grapples with rice-related challenges, the debate over Madani rice intensifies, reflecting broader concerns about market dynamics and agricultural policies.
Evon Anak Jerim is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
The User Content (as defined on Newswav Terms of Use) above including the views expressed and media (pictures, videos, citations etc) were submitted & posted by the author. Newswav is solely an aggregation platform that hosts the User Content. If you have any questions about the content, copyright or other issues of the work, please contact Newswav.
