KUALA LUMPUR: The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry would not protect any quarters involved in rice cartel activities.

Its minister Mohamad Sabu on Facebook said the ministry will be ready to provide information to the Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC) and will not interfere in its investigation.

"The ministry has no objection and is always ready to provide any information to MyCC whenever needed.

"We also won't shield anyone involved in cartel activities and won't interfere with any investigations conducted by MyCC," Mohamad said.

Last month, National Action Council on Cost of Living (Naccol) Task Force (Food Cluster) chairman Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal claimed that there is a local rice cartel involving four to five companies in this country which acted to control the buying and selling of rice, leading to a shortage of the staple food in the market and increase in prices.

He said the information was obtained from engagement sessions with padi farmers, millers, wholesalers, retailers and consumers.

Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz, who is the Bukit Gantang member of parliament, said the findings of the involvement in dealings also showed that the cartel was also influencing rice farmers by offering higher rice prices and at the same time putting pressure on consumers with increased rice prices.

He said he will also present at the Naccol meeting regarding the proposal to grant a subsidy of RM200 to rice farmers for every tonne of rice sold to millers so that local rice can be sold at a price of RM30 for a 10 kg bag of rice.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/04/1038121/agriculture-ministry-vows-no-protection-rice-cartels