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KOTA KINABALU: Foreigners were behind the smuggling of subsidised rice using boats in Sabah waters, claim food security authorities.
Sandakan Padi and Rice Regulatory (KPB) chief Mohd Saiful Nizam Adnan warned, "We will not compromise with those involved in such activities."
Meanwhile, authorities are also watching closely the borders of Sabah,particularly in the east coast, to prevent the smuggling of white rice into neighbouring countries.
The exercise, he added, was being carried out with other enforcement agencies, with a focus on the coastline and jetties around the district.
Mohd Saiful said this initiative was launched following the announcement by the government on the subsidy for imported white rice to Sabah and Sarawak in October.
"Hence, the operation is aimed at monitoring activities as a result of the subsidy announcement to curb the misappropriation and smuggling of imported white rice outside the country," he said, on Thursday (Nov 16).
Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu had announced on Oct 2 that the government had agreed to give a subsidy of as much as RM950 per metric tonne of imported white rice beginning Oct 5.
Mohamad said the price of imported white rice in both states will then cost RM31 per 10kg pack.
The Minister said this was among the four intervention measures to tackle issues related to the supply of rice.
The Philippines’ Tawi-Tawi chain of islands straddle closely to Sabah’s east coast of borders.
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