PETALING JAYA: Some rice millers have allegedly been hoarding local white rice to enforce new payment terms, according to Mydin’s managing director, Ameer Ali Mydin.
Ameer, who also heads the Bumiputera Retailers Association, questioned the sudden improvement in supply after the RM150 million subsidy announced by the government, despite a two-year shortage.
He claimed that millers had taken advantage of the supply crisis to manipulate distribution and were now insisting on cash payments upfront, Utusan Malaysia reported.
“This isn’t about us not being able to pay, but large suppliers have established systems in place.
“This isn’t a small shop where you deliver two packs and demand immediate payment. Some thought needs to be put into this,” he was quoted as saying.
Previously, supermarkets could purchase rice on credit with a 30-day payment term, a practice that still applies to imported rice but has been revoked for local white rice.
“For supermarkets, deliveries go to warehouses before being distributed to branches. The process involves stock verification, calculations, and final approval from the headquarters, which requires three signatures. That’s how the system works,” Ameer said.
He also said that supermarkets were receiving far less local white rice than required, making it difficult for consumers to buy.
“Suppliers deliver twice a week, with only 50 to 100 bags of local white rice per store. But we need at least 500 bags per day,” he said.
He urged the domestic trade and cost of living ministry to intervene and coordinate the distribution of supply among major supermarkets and suppliers.
“We pay the suppliers, yet we’re treated like beggars,” Ameer said.
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