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 clarified this during the debate on the Control of Padi and Rice (Amendment) Bill 2026.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, offences and enforcement procedures under the Act will be specified through regulations to ensure transparency and prevent misuse of authority. The ministry plans to issue a warning for first-time offences, while repeated violations will be taken to court. The bill, discussed in the Dewan Negara, was passed with a majority voice vote after being debated by 20 senators.

Datuk Chan highlighted that offences under the Act include the failure to display or renew licences, and failing to clearly and accurately display labels or markings regarding grade, price, and weight. To ensure fairness, specific lower penalties have been introduced for small traders, avoiding the general penalty of up to RM250,000 for minor offences. These penalties are designed to be educational and non-oppressive.

In addition, Chan mentioned the ministry's readiness to review the proposed digital rice tracking system, which would monitor the movement of rice in the market. This system is particularly important for tracing the location and movement of local white rice (BPT) to prevent market manipulation, such as repackaging due to price differences between BPT and imported white rice.

The bill, which passed in the Dewan Rakyat on July 13, aims to expand the minister's powers to regulate the licensing of paddy buyers, determine grades, control rice prices, and manage the movement of paddy or rice to prevent hoarding and smuggling.