SEREMBAN – There should not be panic buying for local rice in Negri Sembilan as there is sufficient supply in the market, said the state’s executive councillor for consumerism.
S. Veerapan said consumers should buy according to their needs as panic buying would disrupt the local supply chain.
“The local rice supply is sufficient, we are trying to limit the purchase to only 10 packets for the 5kg and 10 kg packets,” he told reporters after an inspection of a rice supplier in Kuala Sawah, Rantau here today.
Veerapan said the domestic trade ministry’s state enforcement unit had conducted 167 inspections under Op Jamin since July 7 – covering supermarkets, mini markets and grocery stores – and found no case of rice packaging being switched from local to imported.
Meanwhile, the director of Negri Sembilan’s branch of the Padi and Rice Regulatory Office, Irwan Ahmad Rejab, said the state needs 3,500 tonnes of rice per month.
“Consumers do not need to stock up on rice because the supply is always available. We have received six complaints about local rice not being available in the market, and suppliers have been instructed to increase their stock,” he said.
According to him, one of the factors causing the state’s rice shortage is panic buying – with consumers switching to local rice following the price hikes for imported rice.
“Previously, the margin between local rice and imported rice was RM1.50 to RM2. Due to the increase in the price of rice worldwide, the margin is now around RM10,” he said, adding that the government has enforced Regulation 10(1)(b) of the Padi and Rice Control (Wholesaler and Retailer Licensing) Regulations 1996, where each individual and trader is only allowed to buy a maximum of 100kg of local white rice. – September 15, 2023