Give Penang rice autonomy, says exco member

GEORGE TOWN: It is time for the state government to be given the autonomy to control its own rice production, says agrotechnology, food security and cooperative development committee chairman Fahmi Zainol.

He said having such autonomy would ensure the supply in Penang is always enough.

Fahmi said among the reasons why there is a shortage of rice is the fact that several “irresponsible parties” have manipulated the price of padi seeds.

“State authorities have received several complaints from farmers about padi seeds that were sold at unreasonable prices to farmers in Penang,” he added.

A check by The Star at several eateries in George Town found that although there was an increase in the price of rice and a shortage of local white rice, most operators had not increased their menu prices.

Eatery operator Jeffri Aziz, 53, said for now, he can still cope with the price increase of local white rice but added that if the shortage continues, he has to resort to buying imported rice.

“Normally, we cook about 90kg of rice per day and for the past few weeks, our supply has been decreasing.

“For example, today we only received 60kg of white rice, and this is not enough for our operations,” he said.

He said that currently a plate of white rice only costs RM1 and he will continue to charge the same price if the supply of local white rice is sufficient.

“However, if I have to buy imported rice which is more expensive, I would have to increase the price of plain rice,” he added.

Jeffri, who has been in the business for 25 years, said he hopes the government will help control the supply and price of this basic food item in the country.

Another food operator Abdul Shukor Maidin, 81, said the same problem that has affected eggs, chicken, cooking oil and sugar has now reached rice production.

“The government must control these basic items by regulating them properly,” he said.

He said that as of now, the price of plain white rice and other food at his stall will remain the same as most of his customers are from the B40 group.