Malaysia fights rice hoarders

MALAYSIA: Malaysia's government is struggling with a lack of officers to ensure that rice prices and supply remain under control, the national news agency reported Thursday.

Agriculture Minister Mustapa Mohamed told Bernama news agency that the government hopes to deploy 2,000 enforcement officers soon to inspect rice dealers nationwide. There are now fewer than 150 personnel performing such duties.

Retailers have been running out of at least one popular type of rice, possibly because of hoarding and smuggling, Bernama quoted Mustapa as saying.

Malaysia has recently stepped up efforts to curb the possibility of a rice shortage. Officials have actively scouted for the grain from the international market to boost its buffer stocks to volumes equivalent to three months of requirements.

The government expects to spend 1.7 billion ringgit (US$550 million; euro355 million) this year to help rice farmers improve infrastructure and obtain fertilizer and pesticides, nearly double what it spent last year.

Kuala Lumpur, Thursday, AP