FOR A GOOD CAUSE: Awang Tengah (fifth left) presents a cheque to a representative of the Methodist Children’s Home Sibu. Also seen from left are Abdul Karim, Fadillah, Kamaluddin, Naroden (centre) and Snowdan (third right). — Photo by Chin Tze Pin
KUCHING: Malaysia’s import of rice increased from 935,244 tonnes in 2010 to over 1.06 million tonnes last year, up 14.2 per cent.
Of the total import last year, 13 per cent or 140,894 tonnes worth over RM313 million had been allocated to Sarawak, said Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan.
As such, the government regarded the steady import synonymous with food security, he told the Bernas Ramah-Tamah Aidilfitri 2012 at a hotel here Thursday evening.
Awang Tengah said Bernas had hiked up the country’s stockpile of rice from 92,000 tonnes to 292,000 tonnes since 2008.
With the additional 200,000 tonnes of stockpile, he felt that the country should not face any shortage of supply in the event of any disaster hitting Southeast Asia.
“Our rice is mainly imported from Vietnam constituting 49 per cent, Thailand (33 per cent), Pakistan (16 per cent) and other countries (two per cent).
“More so, Bernas signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Vietnam government in October last year to maintain the annual supply at 800,000 tonnes for the next 10 years.”
Awang Tengah, who is also Public Utilities Minister and Industrial Development Minister, believed Bernas would keep up its obligation to ensure constant and stable supply of rice in the country.
He was also glad to note that Bernas had been active in fulfilling its corporate social responsibility, reaching out to people throughout Sarawak.
“Various assistances, especially the supply of rice, have been provided for the needy and the less fortunate such as flood and fire victims, single mothers, orphans and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).”
At the function, Bernas subsidiary Beras Corporation Sdn Bhd presented donations totalling RM35,287 to six organisations.
The recipients were Pertubuhan Kebajikan Anak-Anak Yatim Sarawak (Peryatim) Kuching, Complex Peryatim, Anak-Anak Yatim Hamidah Miri, Methodist Children’s Home Sibu, Rumah Kanak-Kanak Datuk Ajibah Abol Sri Aman, Salvation Army Boy’s Home and Salvation Army Children’s Home.
Among those present were Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Datuk Fadillah Yusof, Assistant Minister of Resource Planning Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais, Assistant Minister of Youth Development Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Balai Ringin assemblyman Snowdan Lawan and Beras Corporation Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Mohd Kamaluddin Mohd Effendie.