MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT RAISE FOOD SECURITY ISSUES DURING DEBATE

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 28 (Bernama) -- Food security issues including proposals to increase the stockpile of basic foods, the national rice sufficiency rate (SSR) and the floor price of rice purchases, were among topics raised by Members of Parliament during the debate on the Supply Bill (Budget 2025) today.

Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bebas-Bukit Gantang) said the government needs to be prepared to face a food crisis in the event of global geopolitical instability by providing a buffer stock of basic food such as rice, sugar, fish, chicken, meat, flour and cooking oil.

At the same time, he said the government should also consider a strategic body to coordinate the supply of basic food. 

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“At the moment only rice is given legal provisions to provide a supply stockpile. No agency has yet been held responsible for providing a long-term stockpile for chicken and meat,” he said when debating the bill in Dewan Rakyat, today. 

As for the fish buffer stock, Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz said the Malaysian Fisheries Development Board (LKIM) has carried out stock storage through the freezing method. However, he feels it needs to be increased because the stock of the basic item is not sufficient to guarantee supply stability and prices during the monsoon season and in the event of a global conflict. 

Meanwhile, Cha Kee Chin (PH-Rasah) asked the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) to explain the factors that reduced the country's rice SSR to 56.2 percent compared to 62 percent before.

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Cha who is also the Chairman of the Parliament Special Select Committee (JKPK) on Domestic Trade, Entrepreneurship, Cost of Living and Agriculture said this situation caused concern among the people due to the difficulty in obtaining local white rice supplies.

On Oct 11, the KPKM said the country’s SSR rate was 56.2 percent based on the new SSR calculation basis in line with the standards set by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.

Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (PN-ARAU) suggested that the government increase the base price for a metric tonne of paddy to RM1,800 to compensate for the current increase in the cost of cultivating paddy fields.

In addition, he suggested that the government not float the price of imported rice so that the price of rice can be stabilized and then the price of other goods will decrease.

The Dewan Rakyat session continues tomorrow.

-- BERNAMA