Nafas ready to step in, eyes rice imports amid supply challenges: Syed Abu Hussin

KUALA LUMPUR – The National Farmers Organisation (Nafas) is ready to import rice if Padiberas Nasional Bhd is unable to secure more competitive pricing as local rice supply only fulfils 62% of the domestic demand, said National Action Council on Cost of Living Task Force (Food Cluster) chairman Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal.

“Nafas also has many ideas to ensure an adequate supply of rice in Malaysia,” he said at a press conference in Parliament here today.

He added that the effects of rice “cartels” on production and supply will be limited with Nafas’ early engagement.

“The limited local rice supply is due to repackaging by cartels who want to reap excessive profits. But this can be curtailed by Nafas’ involvement – from land agreements to rice production and distribution.”

With this, Syed Abu Hussin, who is also Bukit Gantang MP, said Nafas could help the government deal with the cartel issue while marketing rice at a reasonable price.

“As a result, the cost of living can be reduced and the price of rice will be stabilised and harmonised. The rice produced by the farmers each season is harvested and sold to the manufacturers. However, the local rice is not available in the market.”

In explaining his proposal, he said farmer associations under Nafas have factories and purchasing centres, and some even have wholesale licences.

He said the meeting among the food cluster task force scheduled for March 20 will be brought forward to tomorrow.

Last Saturday, he said there was a local rice cartel involving four to five companies that control the buying and selling of rice, leading to a shortage of the staple food in the market and an increase in prices.

He said the information was obtained from engagement sessions with rice farmers, millers, wholesalers, retailers and consumers. – March 18, 2024