Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu has urged against blaming the current government for the country’s local rice supply issues, stating that it was inherited from previous administrations. As the Agriculture and Food Security Minister, he has introduced the Local White Rice Special Programme as a short-term measure to ensure sufficient local rice in the market. The programme requires paddy millers and rice wholesalers to increase the supply of local white rice by 20%.
The Opposition has been claiming a lack of rice supply in the country, but Mohamad Sabu dismissed these claims, stating that they did nothing to increase production while they were in power. He emphasized that a meeting with stakeholders will be held to discuss middle- and long-term solutions for the alleged issues, with the results to be revealed after the meeting on September 7.
When speaking to reporters during a visit to Giant Tampoi Hypermarket, Mohamad Sabu expressed his acceptance of public criticism, but disapproved of the Opposition’s attempts to shift blame. He also highlighted previous initiatives by the ministry, such as the Mini Sekinchan Large-Scale Smart Paddy Project (Smart SBB), which successfully increased paddy production to 11 metric tonnes per hectare.
Mohamad Sabu revealed plans to upgrade the watering system infrastructure in paddy fields to further boost production in the upcoming year.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
