PERPATIH RICE SALE PROVIDES 48 TONNES OF RICE, BENEFITING 2,500 PEOPLE MONTHLY - SENIOR EXCO

SEREMBAN, April 28 (Bernama) -- The sale of Perpatih Rice through the Nismilan Prihatin initiative offers 48 tonnes of rice, benefiting approximately 2,500 people each month, the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) was told today.

Senior state executive councillor Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias said the state government's ongoing efforts aim to increase access to local rice for the people of the state.

“This sales programme is held every Friday morning in eight parliamentary constituencies on a rotation basis, with an average sale of 300 rice packets (5kg) at RM13 per packet each week.

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“Overall, 624 metric tonnes of rice have been sold through the Nismilan Prihatin programme over the past 13 months,” he said in his reply to an oral question from the state opposition leader Mohamad Hanifah Abu Baker.

Mohamad Hanifah (PN-Labu) asked the state government to explain its plans to provide free rice to those affected by issues related to local rice, following the revelation by the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) that 40 to 50 per cent of imported rice from 5,000 samples analysed was found to be mixed with local white rice.

Jalaluddin (BN-Pertang) explained that the issue falls under the jurisdiction of the federal government; however, the state government is collaborating with enforcement agencies to ensure strict action is taken against those involved in this embezzlement.

In an unrelated development, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun denied claims that the state government was bullying opposition assemblymen by withholding allocations. He clarified that allocations were being provided through the community service centres of the respective state constituencies.

“Regarding the issue of bullying, it’s not that we’re withholding support, but rather, the allocations are not given directly to opposition assemblymen. Instead, they are channelled through the service centres,” said Aminuddin in response to an interjection by Paroi assemblyman Kamarol Ridzuan Mohd Zain, who disputed the allocations that had not been received to date.

-- BERNAMA