PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
BERNAS Assures Supply Of Imported White Rice Remains Stable And Competitive
SHAH ALAM, 3 JANUARY 2025 – Padiberas Nasional Berhad (BERNAS) has reaffirmed that the supply and price of Imported White Rice (BPI) in Malaysia remain stable and sufficient to meet the country’s needs.
BERNAS consistently ensures that BPI prices in Malaysia remain competitive and align with global market trends.
According to a statement from BERNAS, Pakistan has long been one of the main suppliers of BPI for BERNAS, alongside Thailand, Vietnam, and India. This clarification follows recent media reports quoting the National Action Council on Cost of Living (NACCOL) Task Force (Food Cluster) Chairman Dato’ Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal, regarding the proposal to import rice from Pakistan.
BERNAS also wishes to clarify that no discussions have been held thus far between BERNAS and Dato’ Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal regarding the proposal, as reported by the media. However, BERNAS stands ready to work with various parties to further advance the national food agenda.
BERNAS encourages that any media statements issued by any parties related to the issue of rice import should be supported by facts and discussions with relevant parties, including BERNAS, to avoid any confusion among the public and impact on the stability of the national rice market.
Currently, Malaysia is not experiencing a rice supply crisis. The stock of BPI remains sufficient to meet the country’s needs as BERNAS has continued to ensure the uninterrupted availability and supply of imported white rice.
Additionally, as the custodian of the Concession Agreement with the Malaysian Government, BERNAS is committed to the established social obligations, which include:
- Guaranteeing the income security for local farmers through BERNAS role as the “Buyer of Last Resort” of rice, which aims to ensure there is a market for local rice when rice farmers are unable to market their rice to private mills.
- Managing the country’s rice stockpile sustainably and ensuring the availability of rice supply in the country is among BERNAS 10 social obligations worth RM3.2 billion throughout the concession period.
- Supporting the welfare of farmers through sharing 30% of the profits from imported rice, and providing a one-off aid of RM60 million to farmers, as recently announced.
BERNAS has once again implemented another price reduction for BPI at its warehouse gates across Peninsular Malaysia from RM3,000 to RM2,800 per metric tonne, effective 1 December 2024. In March 2024, BERNAS reduced the price of Imported White Rice from RM3,200 to RM3,000 per metric tonne in Peninsular Malaysia, despite price trends hovering at their highest levels over the past 15 years.
BERNAS continues to work closely with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) and industry stakeholders to ensure product availability and support Malaysia’s food security agenda.
About BERNAS
Established in 1994, BERNAS assumed the pivotal role of custodian for Malaysian paddy and rice, succeeding the corporatised Lembaga Padi dan Beras Negara (LPN). With over three decades of dedicated service, BERNAS has emerged as a cornerstone in Malaysia's paddy and rice industry, earning recognition as a steadfast partner in promoting food security and sustainability.
At the heart of our mission is the enduring slogan, "Nourishing the Nation," epitomizing our unwavering commitment to delivering premier products and services to our homeland. Grounded in the principles of Integrity, Customer Focus, and Teamwork, we uphold our responsibilities with utmost dedication, harmonizing the needs of all stakeholders and maintaining the highest standards of quality throughout our comprehensive supply chain.