Rising rice price a signal for govt to continue focusing on food security, says PKR deputy information chief

PKR has urged the government to prioritize food security and invest in infrastructure for sustainable food production in Malaysia. According to PKR deputy information chief Razeef Rakimin, the recent concerns over rising rice prices and potential supply shortages could have been avoided with a stronger focus on food security. Razeef stated, “If the previous government had prioritized food security instead of solely focusing on industrialization, we would not be facing this problem now.”

The decrease in global rice supply is primarily due to India, the world’s largest rice supplier, ceasing the export of non-Basmati white rice. As India contributes around 40% of global rice trade, other rice-producing countries like Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand are also forced to limit exports and increase prices. Razeef emphasized that the International Food Policy Research Institute had previously warned about increasing commodity prices in India, which ultimately lead to worldwide food export inflation. Razeef asserted that these issues could have been prevented if the former government had taken steps to enhance food security in the country.

Razeef further highlighted that domestic supply is insufficient to meet the domestic demand, even in states with significant rice production. He mentioned that during the last general election, Pakatan Harapan had extensively addressed concerns about food security due to the rising cost of food and raw materials, particularly throughout the pandemic. However, Razeef specified that the cost of living increase was not solely due to government failure but rather a consequence of global crises resulting from domestic demands in export countries during the pandemic. He supported his claim by comparing the cost of raw materials in Malaysia to other ASEAN countries, emphasizing that Malaysia had relatively cheaper prices.

Razeef praised the current government’s ability to regulate prices and supplies, indicating that the country is in good hands. He expressed that ongoing efforts to enhance food security are commendable and must continue to be executed properly. Razeef expressed confidence in Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership, stating that he believes Malaysia will overcome global challenges and crises under Anwar’s guidance.