PRESS STATEMENT:
24 MARCH 2026 - MONITOR LOCAL WHITE RICE SUPPLY IN SABAH
I received
complaints from residents in the district of Penampang yesterday
regarding the shortage of local white rice, which is usually sold at
around RM13.50 to RM15 for a 5kg pack in retail shops.
These complaints
mirror the same issue of shortages in both local and imported white
rice that occurred last week in several districts across the state,
such as Keningau and Tenom. But as at today and according to
colleagues on the ground, Bernas had delivered supplies of local
white rice to those areas while imported white rice remains
unavailable.
Based on my own
inspection in Penampang today, Tuesday, 24 March 2026, I found that
almost all sole proprietorship retail shops in the Bandar Donggongon
area — including chain stores such as 99 Speedmart — have run out
of both local and imported white rice.
If both local
and imported white rice are no longer readily available in ordinary
retail outlets within a major commercial area like Bandar Donggongon,
this clearly indicates that we are facing a serious supply crisis for
this essential commodity.
Therefore, I
urge the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Jamawi Jaafar, to
ensure that the supply of both local and imported white rice in
Penampang, and other districts in Sabah as well, is restored
immediately. Sabahans do not need general statements such as “there
is no supply issue,” “the matter is under investigation,” or
“stocks are sufficient for several months.” Such statements do
not resolve the reality of the shortages currently faced by the
people.
At the same
time, I also call on the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of
Living (KPDN) to carry out continuous monitoring of all business
premises selling local and imported white rice across Sabah,
including retail shops owned by Pakistani nationals, to ensure that
no party takes advantage by hoarding supplies and subsequently
raising prices unreasonably during this shortage.
Monitoring of
millers and suppliers must also be increased to prevent the mixing of
local white rice with imported rice.
I cannot do
anything if elected representatives from the GRS coalition government
choose to remain silent while the Sabahans in their constituencies
will be economically exploited should this supply crisis persist.
However, Warisan will continue to speak out on this issue to ensure
no party takes advantage of the Sabahans (during this crisis).
Finally, with
the increasingly hot weather being felt nationwide and the high
likelihood of an El Niño phenomenon affecting rice-exporting
countries such as India, Vietnam, and Thailand, I once again
reiterate my call to the Minister in charge of Sabah and Sarawak
Affairs, Mustapha Sakmud, to be prepared with his deliberations in
the Federal Cabinet on the need for Sabah to be allowed to import its
own white rice.
Do not allow
Sabah to remain dependent on and controlled by external parties
through basic necessities such as rice. This kind of dependency is
precisely what has weakened Sabah today.
Thank you.
Christopher
Masudal
Strategic
Communications Director
Parti Warisan
