KUCHING: The Paddy and Rice Regulatory Office (KPB) Kuching Branch has assured the public that there is no issue of plastic rice in Sarawak.
Sarawak KPB director Nor Anizan Radzali addressed concerns related to plastic rice, pointing out that recent viral social media reports had created unnecessary alarm.
“Rice samples from the involved wholesalers were submitted to the Chemistry Department for analysis, and the initial inspection results clearly indicated that there was no plastic rice issue,” stated Nor Anizan during the Influencer@JaPen Sarawak Special Edition session, organised by the Malaysian Information Department, Sarawak.
“The process of producing plastic rice would incur significantly higher costs compared to regular rice processing. Given this cost factor, I believe that Sarawak wholesalers will not engage in such a practice. So far, there is no evidence of plastic rice processing factories in Sarawak.”
He added that the import of rice into Malaysia through Padiberas Nasional Berhad (BERNAS) has to pass through screenings by agencies and therefore, it is impossible for plastic rice to enter the country (or state).
Addressing concerns about rice prices, Nor Anizan mentioned that, starting from Oct 5, the government had provided a subsidy of RM950 per metric ton (Imported White Rice – BPI) to Sabah and Sarawak.
“This subsidy allows residents to purchase rice at a maximum price of RM31 for every 10kg.
“The subsidised BPI rice is identifiable by its light blue logo with the words ‘Beras Putih Super (Import)’ on the rice packaging. All rice with this logo must be sold at the subsidised price of RM31, regardless of the brand,” he noted.
Nor Anizan said rice wholesalers in Sibu had unanimously agreed to lower the price of BPI rice starting Oct 6, resulting in a 90 per cent reduction in the price of imported white rice in the Sibu market.
Regarding the rice market in Kuching, he mentioned that rice paddies had requested a moratorium until Oct 9 to adjust market prices.
“Monitoring results from KPB showed that most supermarkets in Kuching had already lowered their rice prices.”
Nor Anizan encouraged the public to report any complaint or enquiry about rice supply or pricing through the KPB website: http://skpb.kpkm.gov.my/adu or by calling the KPB office hotline (Kuching): 082-578 941/ 013-292 0223, (Sibu): 084-326 494/ 017-478 8479, or (Miri): 085-665 523/ 011-5859 8300.
