A possible ban on the export of Malaysian price-controlled rice may be on the cards, local media reported on Wednesday.
The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry ministries are discussing the matter.
The proposed ban was intended to overcome the shortage, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry Secretary-General Zain Mohd Dom said after launching the 2008 National Consumer Day programs here on Tuesday.
"At present, rice is taken out of the country to Singapore because it is cheap due to the fact that it is a controlled item," the New Straits Times quoted Zain as saying.
It was also possible that local rice was being exported to Thailand, Zain said.
"Being price-controlled, our rice 'Super Tempatan' is cheaper than Thai rice. So, there is also the possibility of rice movementinto Thailand.
"People complain that rice is becoming more expensive, but that is only rice from Thailand or Vietnam. The price of local 'Super Tempatan' rice is controlled, so it's not affected. To halt the movement of local rice (across borders), we need to gazette a ban on export," he said.
The proposed ban, however, was still at the discussion stage and had yet to be finalized.
"The effect of the ban would include preventing foreign individuals from taking sacks of rice out of the country," Zain said.
Source:Xinhua
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