Ministry puts off proposal to stop hypermarkets selling the rice
Pauline Almeida
Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009 10:42:00

IN an about-turn, the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry has put off its proposal to stop hypermarkets selling the Super Tempatan 15 per cent broken rice (ST15).

After Malay Mail highlighted hypermarkets’ comments rubbishing the proposal, Minister Datuk Noh Omar is now open to feedback from the public, especially the lower-income groups, on what the Ministry’s stand should be on ST15 rice sales.

The proposal was made at a meeting with national rice agency Bernas and a number of rice millers and wholesalers — supposedly with the aim of stabilising the price of rice and overcoming the ST15 rice shortage.

“Not many people from the lower income group do their shopping at hypermarkets because they prefer to buy at sundry shops,” Noh had said then.

However, the hypermarkets disagreed. They argued that they offered the lowest prices and consumers could literally shop for anything at their outlets.

The government had given out a subsidy of RM180 million, or RM750 per metric tonne, for the production of broken rice for local consumption. Despite this subsidy, the ST15 rice sold, at RM17.50 in 10kg packs, has almost disappeared from the market since last December.

Source: http://www.mmail.com.my/content/st15-rice-can-now-be-sold-hypermarkets