KOTA KINABALU: Sabah should get back its rights to import and export rice, said SAPP deputy president Japiril Suhaimin.
"The Federal government should adopt an open policy on rice imports where Malaysians will benefit as the price of the staple food can then be reduced by at least 50 per cent.
"The government must end the monopoly and issue licences to other companies so that there is a healthy competition in the import of rice," he said in a statement, Monday.
He claimed Bernas' concession as the country’s sole importer is unfair.
"There should be a review and the government should not extend Bernas' monopoly concession.
"Bernas had been making billions of ringgit in profits since 2018.
"Bernas' accumulated profits in 2018 was RM1.2 billion, RM1.3 billion in 2019 and RM798 million in 2020," he said.
