KOTA KINABALU: According to Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, the acting Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister, the price of rice will remain unchanged despite the ban on rice exports by country exporters. He stated that there has been no decision from the government to increase the price of rice at this time. Armizan expressed that the government is aware of the potential challenges that may arise when depending on food sources from overseas. This issue is not limited to export policies, as geopolitical conflicts such as the Ukraine-Russia conflict can also impact the availability of food.
Armizan emphasized that it is crucial to closely monitor overseas supply issues and ensure price stability domestically. Furthermore, the government is exploring ways to boost the country’s self-sufficiency level by cultivating certain crops. He highlighted that although cultivating crops domestically may be more expensive compared to importing them, it is necessary due to the current global landscape. Malaysia cannot rely entirely on food supplies from external sources.
The minister mentioned that while Malaysia still imports rice, efforts have been made to reduce reliance on exporting countries. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has recently increased the Padi Price Subsidy Scheme rate to encourage padi farming and ensure a stable supply. Armizan explained the significance of this increment, as it has never been done before.
However, he pointed out that a major concern lies in the supply of raw sugar, as Malaysia depends entirely on Brazil. To address this, the government has identified potential areas in Peninsular Malaysia for sugarcane cultivation. Armizan expressed the desire to revive sugarcane planting in suitable locations.
The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah, Sarawak, and Special Functions) urged state governments to identify and designate areas suitable for padi and sugarcane cultivation. He proposed that Sabah and Sarawak, through government-linked companies, could pioneer the supply of certain food sources and reduce reliance on the peninsula.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
