Don’t panic, there’s ample rice supply: Minister
3 April 2008
No CommentDon’t panic, there’s ample rice supply: Minister
Some supermarkets report a rush for rice as buyers pick up more bags to beat further price increases
By Jessica Lim and Dong Tianzhao
Singapore’s national stockpile of rice is stored in three warehouses on the island. Warehouses are fumigated daily to make sure weevils do not wipe out the stocks. – ST PHOTO: TERENCE TAN
RICE may be flying off the shelves at some supermarkets but the Government on Thursday advised Singaporeans not to panic as there is ample supply.
A check at NTUC Fairprice in Toa Payoh hub on Thursday showed shoppers picking up bags of rice. At Fairprice Xtra located at the Ang Mo Kio Hub, the shelves for rice were partially empty when a straitstimes.com team checked out the outlet on Wednesday.
Fairprice said it has noticed more customers buying rice since prices started rising recently.
To meet demand, the supermarket is stepping up delivery of rice to its various outlets from alternate days to once or twice a day.
In the wake of a mini rice rush, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry (MTI) S. Iswaran on Thursday reassured Singaporeans that stocks are adequate and imports of the staple from various sources continue to be strong.
Speaking to reporters during his visit to a government warehouse in Pasir Panjang, he said: ‘There is no need to be alarmed, there is ample supply, and I am standing in front of some of it.’
‘The Government is monitoring the situation. We are working to see if there are more specific measures that need to be addressed with the issue of the higher prices of rice.’
Asked if the government would impose price control, Mr Iswaran said this would be counter-productive because importers ‘will not be able to go into the global market.’
It is better to ‘let importers buy on the global market’ and offer ’specific targeted assistance to those affected’, he added.
MTI is working with the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) to explore new schemes to help those affected.
The minister also advised the public to brace themselves to pay more for rice in the short term.
‘If you look at some of the indications, it will probably go up further,’ he said.
But he urged the public to stay calm as rice supplies here will not be affected.
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Jerry Hansin (+65)9027 5537
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