Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim said the Trade Description Act 2011, the Consumer Protection Act 1999, and the Food Act 1983 allow the authorities to investigate and prosecute parties mixing local and imported rice to reap profits.

“The agriculture and food security minister and the domestic trade and cost of living minister should take immediate action against rice mills, wholesalers and retailers responsible for mixing local white rice with imported white rice and selling it at a high price as imported rice,” he said in a statement.

“They do not need to wait for the Control of Padi and Rice Act to be amended before taking action.”

Hassan noted that analysis conducted by the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) showed that about 40% to 50% of tested rice sacks contained a mixture of imported rice and local white rice.

On Feb 13, agriculture and food security minister Mohamad Sabu said the Control of Padi and Rice Act will be amended to boost enforcement against those who rebrand locally produced rice as imported rice.