Govt subsidy on poor man’s ST15 rice withdrawn blaming on "leakage"

KUALA LUMPUR -The Federal Government has withdrawn a subsidy on rice meant for the poor because of “too much leakage” in the programme.

The government has been distributing subsidised ST15 rice (Super Tempatan 15 per cent broken) since 2008 to ensure that the very poor could afford rice at the lowest price.

Samsuddin Ismail, Padi and Rice Division secretary in the agriculture ministry, said yesterday that studies had show that the rice, meant for low-income Malaysians, were also being bought by non-Malaysians.

There were also distributions problems, of insufficient supplies in some places and too much in other places, he said.

The ministry had taken various actions including terminating the licences of the dealers involved, but the problems persisted.

“For the past two months, we have sought the best means of ensuring that the assistance given would reach the really poor.

Samsuddin said the distribution of ST15 rice was meant to be a temporary programme to help the poor.

ST15 is of a slightly lower quality compared to ST5, the local rice variety bought by most Malaysians.

-BERNAMA