KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 14): A Member of Parliament (MP) has called on the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to reduce Malaysia's rice exports, which amounted to 10% of imports in 2021, until domestic supply stabilises amidst disruptions in the rice supply chain.

During the debate on the mid-term review of the 12th Malaysia Plan, Member of Parliament for Jelebu Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias (BN-UMNO), highlighted that the domestic disruption in rice supply is a result of price hikes in imported rice while Malaysia continues to export its own rice.

"According to statistics from the Department of Agriculture, Malaysia produced 1.677 million metric tonnes of rice in 2021 and imported 1.62 million metric tonnes of rice. In the same period, Malaysia exported 161,000 metric tonnes of rice," he stated.

In response to this situation, Jalaluddin suggested that the Ministry of Agriculture reviews Malaysia's rice exports policy to prioritise local demand. He also called for intensified efforts by enforcement teams to address alleged price manipulation in the local rice market and to curb smuggling activities.

Similarly, former Minister of Agriculture, Ronald Kiandee (PN-Bersatu), cited public complaints about the inability to purchase locally-produced rice priced at RM2.60 per kg.

"The ministry must investigate why this is happening. The government should not deny the problems involving local rice," he added.

He questioned whether this issue was caused by certain parties manipulating prices to increase profits, or if it was more profitable for rice factories to process imported paddy, leading them to refuse local paddy, which could otherwise be sold as local rice.

This month, the government imposed a 100kg limit on purchases of locally-produced white rice amid hoarding by consumers which caused disruption in the supply of locally-produced rice.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has also instructed paddy millers and rice wholesalers to increase the supply of local white rice by 20% through the Local White Rice Special Programme (BPT) to restore supply in the market.

Malaysia's sole rice importer, Padiberas Nasional Bhd (Bernas), this month raised the imported price of rice to RM3,200 per tonne from RM2,350 per tonne. This increase is attributed to factors including a weakening currency exchange rate, high operating costs, and the impact of the white rice export ban announced by India starting in July.