KUALA LUMPUR: A new scheme aimed at restructuring the rice industry will be announced soon, says Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.
The Agriculture and Food Security Minister said intensive consultation is currently being done with all relevant stakeholders including padi farmers, associations, suppliers, and wholesalers to get their feedback.
"All of this will be announced within two or three days, on the new scheme, but in the long term, there will be a major restructuring," he said in reply to a supplementary question from Datuk Rosol Wahid (PN-Hulu Terengganu) during the Minister's Question Time.
Rosol had asked the ministry to state the extra measures taken to ensure that there was enough supply of local white rice in the market.
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According to Mohamad, the self-sufficiency level (SSL) of the country's rice supply currently stands at only 62%.
"From that total amount, it will be distributed as part of zakat (tithe), government contracts, hospitals, police stations, schools, hostels, and so on. So, there's approximately only 50% left to be distributed," explained Mohamad Sabu, who is popularly known as Mat Sabu.
Commenting on the polemics regarding the lack of local white rice in the market, he said that it would remain problematic if the national rice stock remains low.
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"My officers and I try to play our role by opening new padi fields, and our front line is now in Sarawak, Sabah, Johor, Perak and Pahang.
"We are planning to open a 10-acre padi field in Pekan, Pahang.
"These are among the measures to boost the production of local white rice. So, it's a bit of a problem for now, and we need to restructure. Hence, this year we will carry out a new restructuring.
"Currently, we are engaging with all parties involved, rice farmers, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers so that when we announce it later, all parties involved will be satisfied. This is a long-term arrangement," he said.
The National Action Council on Cost of Living (Naccol) will be holding a meeting today chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to discuss padi and rice prices.
