Johor has enough rice supply, says MP

PASIR GUDANG: There is enough of daily necessities, especially white rice, says Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim, who urged the consumers to not go into panic buying.

He said he had visited the rice stockpile in Johor.

"I would like to assure that we have enough rice for the people, especially in Johor," he added.

He said the government has also been carrying out various intervention programmes to address issues related to the shortage of local white rice.

“I was also told that a subsidy programme for imported rice may be introduced as the last resort if the problem persists.

"Let the minister make the announcement,” he said after visiting a supermarket in Taman Cendana here to check on the supply of daily necessities on Tuesday (Sept 26).

Hassan said the items including sugar, cooking oil packets and eggs were sufficient.

He revealed that more Jualan Rahmah programmes would be held next month to help the low-income group in the constituency with over half a million population.

The shortage of local white rice occurred after an increase in demand following a 36% price hike on imported white rice from RM2,350 a tonne to RM3,200 a tonne on Sept 1.

The price for local white rice is sold at a controlled price of about RM2.60 per kg.

Johor Paddy and Rice Regulation director Mohd Alieff Sabeh said the supply of local white rice is expected to stabilise within a month following the increase in rice production.

He said the state received 190 tonnes of local white rice between Sept 8 and 15, and another 30 tonnes each on Sept 25 and 26.