Labuan runs out of cheap rice stocks

Labuan: The island ran out of subsidised rice over the last two weeks. It is still uncertain when new stocks from Kota Kinabalu would be arriving.

It was learnt that the quota had been slashed from 200 metric tonnes to only 80 metric tonnes a month, recently.

Asked to comment on the matter, Labuan's Domestic Trade Chief Aslani Dabi said, "The allocation of the subsidised rice is under the jurisdiction of the Rice Enforcement Unit in Sabah. As it is subsidised by the Federal Government, it is meant for the poor, and not for restauranteurs or those of higher income bracket."

He added that his department merely monitor the stock level.

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On the whole, there is no shortage of other grades of rice in the market.

The subsidised rice cannot be sold in town or supermarkets.

Judging from the number of BR1M recipients, around 5,000 households earn income of below RM3,000. If each family of five consumes 30kg of rice a month, this means that total demand for the lower income group is 150,000kg. But even the lower middle income group might also resort to the cheaper rice due to the high cost of living.

The rice is sold at RM18 per 10kg. The next cheapest is the 1Malaysia rice at RM25, which is also unavailable.

Md Zaidi Moo Abdullah, who runs the Agro Bazaar in Kg Tg Aru, told Daily Express that he limit his regular customers not more than two bags per purchase. Those who he is not familiar he only allows a bag each.

"But some came with their family in tow, each member buying one bag each. This I cannot do anything," he said.

Even with this strategy, he had run out of stock for the last two weeks. He obtained his supply from Fama.

Another grocer at Kg Ganggarak who is also an appointed wholesaler, Laidin Lamat said his supply had been reduced from 40 tonnes to ten metric tonnes for wholesaling. He had to share his stock with other outlets in the nearby villages.

"I require proof that the customer is genuine Malaysian.

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If they can't produce MyKad, I won't sell to them," Laidin said.

According to the grapevine, some of the subsidised rice might have found its way into the black market and sold for RM24 at Kg Muslim and Pulau Daat. The two settlements are well known to be enclaves of Filipinos, holding IMM13.

Try 1 month for RM 18.00

Try 1 month for RM 18.00

Try 1 month for RM 18.00