Consumer group lauds probe into 48 companies for rice mixing
The Consumer Association of Kedah (Cake) has supported the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry’s investigation into 48 companies accused of rice mixing. President Mohamad Yusrizal Yusoff urged strict penalties, including revoking licenses, for offenders who mix local and imported rice. The investigation follows inspections under Op Campur to tackle illegal rice blending, which has occurred since the 1970s.
ALOR STAR: The Consumer Association of Kedah (Cake) has lauded the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry move to probe 48 companies for rice mixing.
Its president, Mohamad Yusrizal Yusoff, said the people wished to see the culprits face the music for their unscrupulous acts.
“Cake supports (the ministry’s) action to invoke Section 5 of the Trade Descriptions Act 2011 to identify and impose heavy punishment against those found guilty of repackaging local white rice as import or mixing local white rice into blue packaging labels (for imported rice),” he said when contacted.
Yusrizal said, while the ministry should have launched the probe more than two years ago, it should now impose hefty punishments on the offenders.
“The people wish to see the offenders sentenced to hefty punishments, including revoking their milling or packaging licences, because they can no longer be trusted after betraying the people’s trust.
“We hope to see that, so that the government will not be seen as protecting these cartels,” he added.
On Tuesday, it was reported that the ministry was probing 48 companies for rice mixing as part of its crackdown on the mixture and sale of local and imported white rice.
Rice mixing, which dates back to the 1970s, involves the illegal mixing of local and imported white rice to hoodwink consumers.
The investigation papers were opened following inspections on 213 premises nationwide as part of Op Campur, an operation to address issues of mixing local and imported white rice.
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Source : NST Online
