Managing Director of Mydin Supermarkets, Datuk Ameer Ali, claims that local rice manufacturers (BPT) are not only restricting supply, but also changing payment terms by forcing retailers to pay in cash – a strange practice that has never happened before!
As president of the Bumiputera Retailers Association, Ameer questioned how BPT, which has been hard to find for the past two years, suddenly appeared after the government channeled a RM150 million subsidy.
He claimed that manufacturers are taking advantage of this crisis to tighten their grip on retailers, forcing them to accept one-sided payment terms.
Where retailers used to be able to buy on credit, now they are forced to settle the payment in full before the stock is delivered.
Worse, the supply being delivered is far from sufficient – only 50 to 100 bags a week, when the actual demand is reaching 500 bags a day.
Ameer urged the Ministry of Domestic Trade (KPDN) to immediately intervene by setting supply quotas so that distribution is fairer, instead of letting manufacturers 'play with prices' as they please.
The question now is - does the government still have the power or are the manufacturers holding the remote control over the people's food prices?
