Thankful, but RM100 padi purchase increment not enough - Sanusi

SHAH ALAM – While he was thankful for the government's proposal to increase the padi purchase price in Budget 2024, Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor argued that a mere RM100 increment fell short of the necessary adjustment.

“First of all, I would like to say thank you very much (to the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim). Increased by RM100, not enough but I still need to say thanks because they upped it.

“I was expecting that the increment would be more than that because recently, they (rice millers) bought padi at RM1,700 (per tonne). At that time, it can be done,” said Sanusi when met by reporters at the media room of the 69th Pas Muktamar, here, today.

He was referring to the proposed padi purchase price of RM1,300 per tonne, which was increased from the current RM1,200 per tonne that had drastically dropped starting this month.

Prior to the dip, the price was RM1,700 per tonne with the surge being caused by the then-local rice shortage due to export restrictions by major rice producers.