MIRI: Subsidised Super 15% rice ‘disappeared’ within hours on Monday here after it was sent out from the warehouse of the local wholesaler for sale at various outlets.

NEW PACKAGE: Lee (centre) shows the new Super 15% packing, flanked by Tay on his right and Amri Bair of Beras at the warehouse in Piasau. Also seen are Tan (right) and an unidentified officer.

Infrastructure Development and Communication Assistant Minister Lee Kim Shin said it was an “unnatural phenomenon” considering the fact that previously the entire daily sale was about 70 tonnes and that comprised various types of rice including Super 15%.

Panic buying and some “unexplained factors” were believed to have been the cause for the Super 15% rice to be “swept” off the shelves in a matter of hours.

This development has prompted the authorities to investigate if there were any hanky-panky practice in the market.

Lee, who is Senadin assemblyman, said he received a number of telephone calls, SMSes and verbal complaints from the public that despite the government introducing three grades of rice for East Malaysia, there were rumours of insufficient stock and allegations of abuse or hoarding.

Lee, who had called Beras representatives and chief enforcement officer for rice supply monitoring and supervision for latest updates, and visited Tong Seng Huat office and store said: “There is sufficient supply as you can see, and we are only worried that there may be panic buying or abuse by some quarters who may buy and keep this subsidised commodity and mix them with others for profit,” he said.

There is only one grade available in the market here, the Super 15% grain which is subsidised by the government while the other two, five and 10 per cent broken grain mixture would only arrive next month.

The rice is sold at RM18 per 10 kg packet and Tan Gee Suat, managing director of Tong Seng Huat, the joint-venture company with Beras, said it was distributed at RM17.50 to retailers here.

Better quality rice is not subsidised and the price has soared to double or less, and this Lee said was dictated by the world price for rice.

“Without the government’s subsidy, a bag of Super 15% will be almost double,” Lee said, adding that the government spent RM200 million on this.

The highest grade is those under Beras Wangi (fragrant rice) which now costs RM38 compared to RM18 previously.

Meanwhile, Lee urged members of the public to help the authorities to keep an eye on any possible malpractice in the market and report the matter to the enforcement office at 085-665523.

First time offenders could be fined up to RM50,000.

The enforcement office led by Philip Tay Yampil monitors and supervises the distribution of subsidised rice here and makes daily report to its headquarters under the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry.

Lee said the demand here was about 600 tonnes a month for assorted types of rice, and he wanted Beras to monitor the situation closely and ensure that there was sufficient Super 15% in the market.