SIBU: Padiberas Nasional Berhad (BERNAS) should not be the sole importers of rice.
Bukit Assek assemblyman, Joseph Chieng Jin Ek, suggested that other companies should also be permitted to import, potentially at lower costs.
“The market should be open, allowing cheaper rice imports for our people’s benefit,” Chieng said during the SUPP Bukit Assek Mid-Autumn Festival event on Saturday night.
Addressing the recent data, which revealed Sarawak’s inflation rate touched 3.4 per cent year-on-year in August 2023 – the steepest in the last three months, Chieng highlighted the urgency of the situation.
“Essential items, from rice to bihun and vegetables, are now pricier, making life harder for our people.
“I’ve heard from many about their struggles with the rising cost of living. I assure them of my support and readiness to help, recognising the financial challenges they now face,” he added.
