SEREMBAN: The price of imported white rice at several outlets here were the same, but sellers said it will go down soon when new stock comes in.
Checks at several wholesalers and outlets here found that 10kg bags of imported white rice were still being sold at between RM35.90 and RM45.90 depending on the brand and quality.
Business owners met here, however, said they have been told by millers that the prices would be coming down.
An employee at one of the bigger mills said the government had told the millers to reduce prices from March 20.
ALSO READ : It’s nice to see a price drop
“The directive was for the millers to reduce the prices.
“The outlets may not be able to bring down prices so soon as the earliest they can get their supply from us is three days,” she said when met at one of the wholesale outlets here, adding that outlets located further away may only get their supply a week from the day they put in their order.
The employee, who requested anonymity, said the mill she works at brought down the price of the 10kg bag by RM2 and the 5kg bag will also be RM1 cheaper regardless of brand.
A major rice wholesaler said they have received information from millers that prices would be coming down, but they have yet to get the new rates.
“We are still selling at the old prices. We cannot tell when the price will come down, but we have been told it will,” he said, adding that he usually receives his supply within three days of placing an order.
The manager of a store along Jalan Yam Tuan here, who wished to be identified only as Kannan, said he had received a notice from a wholesaler that the price of the 5kg and 10kg imported bags of white rice would be coming down.
“I was asked how much stock balance I have. For now, we are still selling our existing stock, which costs between RM38 and RM42 for the 10kg bag,” said Kannan.
A manager of another outlet here said they too had yet to reduce the price of their imported white rice as they have not received anything in writing from suppliers.
“Our supplier told us the new price list will be out soon.
“We were asked about the volume of our existing stock and they will also keep us posted on developments of the new price structure,” she said.
On Tuesday, the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry said imported white rice currently retails for between RM38 and RM45 per 10kg pack and this is expected to drop to RM35.
Shopper B. Amarjeet Kaur, 63, thanked the government for reducing the price of imported white rice, but said more should be done to bring down the price of other essential food items such as flour.
“Any reduction in the price of foodstuffs is welcome but the authorities need to do more to consistently monitor prices.
“The price of certain foodstuffs has spiked in recent times and the authorities need to take stock of this,” she said.
Another shopper, who wished to be known only as Jamilah, also welcomed the price reduction but expressed hope the same could be done for local white rice.
“We need to boost production of local white rice to bring down the price further.
“I don’t see why this cannot be done as we have plenty of idle and government-owned land to grow rice,” she said, adding that this was important as rice was the nation’s staple food.
