KUALA LUMPUR – The price of imported rice from India has been slightly reduced following negotiations between the Malaysian and Indian governments during Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s recent visit to the country.
Anwar, who is Pakatan Harapan chairman, reaffirmed the government’s steadfast commitment to easing the burden of rising costs on the people, particularly by ensuring essential goods remain affordable, Bernama reported.
Citing imported rice, the prime minister said the price of imported rice from India is currently lower following the government’s successful negotiations with India during his visit to the country in August.
“They agreed to sell the rice at a cheaper price. We hope this will ease the people’s burden,” he said in his speech at the launch of the MADANI Cheapest Sale Programme in Kampung Masjid Timah, in Butterworth today.
Anwar said the hosting of these cheap sale programmes can provide healthy competition, thus putting pressure on the market price to be lowered.
Anwar said the one-day sale offered 1,000 chickens and 200 bags of rice for free to visitors.
In addition, he said visitors could also buy fresh fish guaranteed to be lower than the market price as they were taken directly from fishing boats.
“One can buy fresh fish at a cheaper price if they are obtained directly from fishermen, without the use of middlemen. That’s why we encourage fishermen to use apps so that people can buy directly from them.
“This will also create healthy competition in the market,” he said.
Anwar also spent about 30 minutes mingling with the traders and visitors at the programme. – December 7, 2024