Don’t play ‘blame game’ over local rice supply issues, says Mat Sabu

JOHOR BARU: Do not play the “blame game” regarding the country’s local rice supply issues, as it was inherited from previous governments, says Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.

The Agriculture and Food Security Minister said the ministry had recently introduced the Local White Rice Special Programme as a short-term measure to ensure sufficient local rice in the market.

Under the programme, paddy millers and rice wholesalers have been asked to increase the supply of local white rice (BPT) by 20%.

“The Opposition claims there is a lack of rice supply in the country, which is not true. At the same time, they did not do anything to increase production while they were in power.

“Regardless, we will conduct a meeting with the stakeholders to come up with a middle- and long-term solution for the alleged issues, which will be revealed after the meeting on Thursday (Sept 7).

“I can accept public criticism, but not from them (the Opposition) who only want to play the blame game,” he said when met by reporters after conducting a working visit to Giant Tampoi Hypermarket, here, on Tuesday (Sept 5).

Mohamad added that the ministry has previously introduced initiatives such as the Mini Sekinchan Large-Scale Smart Paddy Project (Smart SBB), where they managed to increase paddy production to 11 metric tonnes per hectare (ha).

“This is three times more than the usual production.

“We are also planning to upgrade our watering system infrastructure in paddy fields to help increase production next year,” he said.