KUALA LUMPUR: Due to poor harvest caused by bad weather and the insufficient import of rice, rice wholesalers and retailers are facing shortage of supply, and the situation is expected to get worse.

Tan Swee Huat, president of the Malaysian Rice Grain Wholesalers Association (Persatuan Pemborong-Pemborong Beras Malaysia), said if the imbalance remains unresolved, Malaysians may face rice shortage over the next few months.

To resolve this crisis, Tan said Padiberas Nasional Bhd (Bernas) should adopt measures such as relaxing the quota on rice imports to meet the demand.

Currently, a subsidiary of Bernas and the Malaysian Rice Grain Wholesalers Association are two main suppliers of rice in the market.

Tan said due to poor harvest, the association’s members had received lower supply of rice.

The allocation of 15,000 tons of rice per month for members of the association was being reduced to 7,500 tons and probably lower, Tan told Sin Chew Daily in an exclusive interview, adding that the drop in supply was more than 50%.

Rice wholesalers are crying foul over the shortage of supply that their existing stock could only meet the demand for next few weeks, he said.

Rice in many convenience stores and supermarkets are selling out fast and wholesalers do not have sufficient supply to replenish.

Tan is of the view that Bernas, holder of the rice import permit, must ensure that supply is sufficient and the price of rice is stable.

“The association hopes that Bernas can import more rice. At the same time, increase the allocation of rice to wholesalers.

“Shortage of rice supply will lead to panic,” he said.

The association has informed Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Chan Foong Hin and hopes he would be able to help, especially on the supply-demand imbalance.