The National Action Council on Cost of Living’s (Naccol) food prices committee chairman found himself in hot water for stating “Madani white rice” will be the sole category of white rice in Malaysia from March 1, especially as he said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had approved its introduction and given him the mandate to announce it.

Speaking to FMT, the Bukit Gantang MP admitted that the Cabinet had not approved the proposal.

“I didn’t say the Cabinet approved the proposal. I said the prime minister did,” he said.

“Now we have to follow the procedure. The minister (agriculture and food security minister Mohamad Sabu) said it will be brought to the Cabinet, and it’s up to them to approve it.”

He was tight-lipped when asked whether he was confident the Cabinet would give his proposal the thumbs up.

“We’ll see how it goes … I don’t want to comment further,” he said, adding that the matter will also be discussed at next week’s Naccol meeting.

On Wednesday, Syed Hussin announced that the government will introduce the “Madani white rice” priced at RM30 for a 10kg sack from March 1.

He also said it will be the sole category of white rice in the country, replacing the local white rice and imported white rice categories.

At a press conference, he said the price of a 5kg sack of “Madani white rice” will be set at RM15.50 while a 1kg bag of rice will be priced at RM3.50.

The retail price for local white rice is RM2.60 per kg as stipulated under the Control of Padi and Rice Act 1994 (Act 522).

Earlier today, Mohamad said Syed Hussin’s suggestion was not finalised, stressing that any announcement will only be made by the Cabinet and subject to the Control of Padi and Rice Act.

Meanwhile, government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil denied that the government made a U-turn on the matter, stating that the Cabinet has yet to decide on Syed Hussin’s “suggestion”.