Mohamad, also known as Mat Sabu, said his ministry is prepared to provide any information to the Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC) and will not interfere in any of MyCC’s investigations.

MyCC’s scope of duty includes investigating the existence of cartels in the country’s economy, he said in a Facebook post following inquiries on the matter, Bernama reported.

Last month, Bukit Gantang MP Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal, who heads the national action council on cost of living’s (Naccol) food prices and cost of living committee, said Naccol would discuss allegations of syndicates involving up to five major companies in the rice industry.

Syed Hussin said he was informed about the cartels through engagements with rice farmers, manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers and users.

He said he would bring the matter to the committee’s meeting so that “serious action” would be taken by the government.

“The companies involved control up to 80% of the local white rice market. The cartel buys padi at a high price, which is RM1,850 per tonne, and then raises the price of rice,” he had claimed, according to Bernama.

“Some of these companies are selling local rice in imported rice packages. The actions of these cartels are destabilising the ecosystem of padi and rice prices.”

In January, the agriculture and food security ministry said its padi and rice regulatory division was working with MyCC to investigate allegations of syndicates in the rice industry.