Issue of country’s rice supply to be discussed at Naccol meeting this Friday

A special meeting of the National Action Council on Cost of Living (Naccol), to be chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, will be held this Friday to discuss the cost of living issue, especially the rice supply issue in the country.

Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said the ministry, as the Naccol secretariat, has received confirmation from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) that the issue of the country’s rice supply will be one of the matters to be raised for discussion.

“Since the enforcement of the Control of Padi and Rice Act 1994, the power to regulate padi and rice, including the direction of supply and price, is under MAFS.

“Any changes involving government policies and programmes that are related to the padi and rice industry are under the responsibility of the MAFS minister, in line with the order issued under the Ministerial Functions Act 1969,” he told reporters after attending a mass circumcision ceremony here yesterday.

The programme involved 260 participants and eight mosques in the Kawang state constituency.

Armizan said any official announcements regarding the country’s rice supply will be made by Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, or a designated representative after decisions are reached by Naccol.

Subsequently, these decisions will be brought to the Cabinet if they are significant and involve financial implications, he added.

He also said that with the cooperation of the Ministry of Economy through the Department of Statistics, the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry will also raise for consideration the indicators to measure living costs at the meeting.

“If we don’t have time to discuss it at this Friday’s meeting, we will bring it to the Naccol meeting in March.” — Bernama