KUALA LUMPUR: The lack of local rice supply in the market prompted Umno youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh to ambush rice factory operations and warn them of action if they fail to comply with instructions issued by the government.
The Melaka Rural Development, Agriculture and Food Security Committee chairman insisted that his duty was to protect the people and not the big 'tauke'.
Through a three minutes and 24 seconds video, Akmal threatened to retract the licence of manufacturers who refuse to produce local rice with packets and prices set by the government.
He stressed that small profit margins should not be used as an excuse by manufacturers not to produce local rice.
"If you don't want to produce it (local rice), say so, and I'll take away your licence. If you say you will suffer loss, remember that this is the government's order to sell at RM26 (per packet).
"If you are really suffering loss, you talk to me now. I'll take away your licence and (give) someone else.
"Now you have a licence, you say you are losing and don't want to sell (local rice), I can tell the government to pull all of your licences," he said in a video uploaded on his Facebook last night.
The video shows Akmal urging the factory operators to produce local rice as directed by the government.
However, it is not certain which factory Akmal went to, but it is believed to have happened in Melaka.
Previously, Akmal suggested that the government limit the sale of local rice to foreigners following the price increase driven by a lack of supply in the market.
Akmal explained that it was not a matter of discrimination, but stated that priority should be given to the locals.
Netizens praised his effort including a Facebook user named Izzara Maya who agreed that it was impossible for the factory not to make a profit.
"That's right, already having a licence to pack local rice, yet did not want to do it. Purportedly it's not profitable. This is not possible," she said.
Mus Lat, on the other hand, thinks that the manufacturer is keeping the rice and does not want to release it to the people.
"These people who hide rice don't want to release it. Suddenly local rice disappears from the radar when the price of imported rice goes up.
"Just take away the licence of those who misbehave," he said.