Deputy Minister Chan Foong Hin says enforcement of amended Padi and Rice Act targets wholesalers, millers and smugglers, not farmers.
KUALA LUMPUR: Enforcement of the amended Control of Padi and Rice Act 1994 (Act 522) will not target paddy farmers but focus on wholesalers, millers, importers, retailers, and those involved in rice smuggling and hoarding.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Datuk Chan Foong Hin said offences and enforcement procedures under the Act will be specified through regulations to ensure transparency and prevent misuse of authority.
“Generally, the ministry will adopt an approach of issuing a warning for a first-time offence. Should a second or subsequent violation occur, the case will be brought to court for further action,” he said.
He said this when winding up the debate on the Control of Padi and Rice (Amendment) Bill 2026 for its second reading in the Dewan Negara today.
The bill was later passed with a majority voice vote after being debated by 20 senators.
Chan said offences under the Act include the failure to display or renew licences, as well as failing to clearly and accurately display labels or markings regarding grade, price, and weight.
Specific lower penalties have been introduced to ensure small traders are not subject to the general penalty of up to RM250,000 for minor offences.
“As such, these specific, lower, and proportionate penalties serve as an enforcement mechanism that is educational, transparent, and non-oppressive,” he said.
Chan said the ministry is prepared to review the proposed implementation of a digital rice tracking system to monitor the movement of the commodity in the market.
The system is crucial for tracing the location and movement of local white rice (BPT) along the supply chain, particularly to curb market manipulation such as repackaging due to the price difference between BPT and imported white rice.
The bill, which was passed in the Dewan Rakyat on July 13, also aims to expand the minister’s powers to make regulations regarding the licensing of paddy buyers, the determination of grades, price controls for rice, and the movement of paddy or rice to curb hoarding and smuggling.
The Dewan Negara sits again tomorrow.
