PADANG BESAR (April 1): The government has decided for its institutions, such as the military, police, schools, hostels and hospitals, to use imported white rice from Monday to enable the people to obtain local rice.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the people can get sufficient supply of local rice if these institutions use imported white rice instead of the local variety.

"I have informed the secretary general [of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security] to find a way to ensure that local rice mills send supplies at least to Fama (the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority) and LPP (Farmers' Organisation Authority) offices, so that it reaches the people, but is local rice enough? It's insufficient, because its production is limited.

"How can we further help the people get cheaper goods? The government, starting today, April 1, has decided that all [rice] needs in the military, police, schools, hostels, hospitals will use imported rice, so that local cheap rice can be purchased by the people, thus easing their burden," he said.

He said this when speaking at the Perlis-level Madani breaking of fast ceremony at Masjid Nurul Huda Felda Chuping near here on Monday. Also present was Perlis Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli.

On March 25, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu reportedly said that any government contract involving rice distribution would use imported white rice from April.

Meanwhile, the prime minister said his visit to Perlis on Monday was significant, as his team also sought input and suggestions from the state government regarding efforts to develop the state and improve the standard of living of its people.

"I once again express my gratitude for the opportunity given to us to make this working visit meaningful with the speaker and state executive councillors, along with the director general of the ICU (Implementation and Coordination Unit of the Prime Minister's Department) and other senior officials from various ministries.

"It didn't turn out to be a usual briefing session. Usually, during visits, there's a briefing and then we leave, but we asked for input and suggestions from the state government. We are doing this in most states. Perlis is the fifth state, two days ago, it was in Sarawak.

"We focused on what projects are being implemented, what problems exist, if there are delays, and why? What are the complaints from the people, why we couldn't address them properly, and what more can be done to make Perlis progress, whether in terms of tourism or overall economic development?" said the prime minister.

He also drew attention to the fact that despite the Perlis government being of a different party, it had a close and very cooperative relationship with the federal government.

Earlier, Anwar also chaired a briefing on Perlis' development at the State Legislative Assembly Complex, and visited the Persiaran Wawasan Ramadan Bazaar in Kangar during his brief visit to the state.