Rice smuggling still rampant in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: Rice smuggling is still rampant at border areas despite regular enforcement by the Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry’s Padi and Rice Regulatory Division.

Foreign syndicates are known to smuggle rice, bought cheaply in countries such as Thailand and Vietnam, through lorong tikus (illegal routes) at the Malaysian border, where it is sold at the standard price of RM2.60 per kg or higher.According to rice industry coalition Padi Rescue chief coordinator Nurfitri Amir Muhammad, the tactic used by the smugglers reaped them huge profits.