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BERNAS DESCRIBES ITSELF…
As the Nation’s partner in the paddy and rice industry, BERNAS and its group of companies are involved in the procurement and processing of paddy; as well as the importation, warehousing, distribution and marketing of rice in Malaysia.
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31 December 2017
December 31, 2017
Bernas brushes aside claims of monopoly, neglecting local farmers
PETALING JAYA: Padiberas Nasional Bhd (Bernas) has denied allegations by a coalition of NGOs representing farmers that it is a monopoly that has failed to protect and promote the local industry, and has unduly favoured cheaper imported rice to escalate its own profits.
The national rice corporation told the Straits Times (ST) of Singapore that it purchased only around 30% of the total paddy produced in the country, with the rest processed by other rice millers.
It said in a ST report that it had not sought to sideline locally produced rice.
It said its nationwide deduction rate of 23.6%, for portions of products produced by farmers that are rejected for impurities, was far lower than that alleged by Padi Rescue, an NGO.
The report said as part of its social obligations Bernas was required to act as the buyer of last resort for locally grown paddy.
“At times, we have purchased rejected paddy of zero commercial value from farmers,” Bernas was quoted as saying.
On Nov 29, parliamentary opposition leader and PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail had urged the government to take steps to stop Bernas from initiating legal action against Padi Rescue in connection with its memorandum submitted to the prime minister on Oct 20.
The memorandum had called for the re-establishment of the National Paddy and Rice Board (LPN), whose functions Bernas had taken over in 1994, to regulate the national rice industry.
Bernas, which is controlled by tycoon Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary, is currently the sole permit holder of rice imports in Malaysia.
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29 November 2017
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Malay Mail OnlineVerified account @themmailonline
MPs petition over Bernas’ legal action against farmers’ group
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 29 — A total of 83 Opposition lawmakers, consisting of both Pakatan Harapan and PAS MPs, signed a petition today urging Putrajaya to direct national rice firm Padiberas Nasional Berhad (Bernas) to stop its intended legal action against a farmers’ NGO that had criticised the rice company.
Known as Padi Rescue, the NGO of farmers, millers, wholesalers and consumers submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak last month saying Bernas had failed to protect farmers, and asked for the reinstatement of the National Rice and Paddy Board (LPN).
However, Bernas had threatened the group with legal action after the memorandum, with a legal notice issued earlier this month.
The MPs said that it is the “legitimate right” of all Malaysians to publicly scrutinise the performance of Bernas, which carries out a public function to manage the national rice industry.
“We hold that the production and supply of rice, being an important essential food item should not be monopolised, profited or be controlled by any single privately and commercially owned individual or company,” the petition said.
The petition also calls for the reinstatement of LPN to regulate the rice industry once Bernas’ public functions end in 2021.
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Read more at http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/mps-petition-over-bernas-legal-action-against-farmers-group#pEkZqr1v6dlTXfsj.99
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November 29, 2017
Wan Azizah slams planned legal action against Padi Rescue
KUALA LUMPUR: The opposition has urged the government to stop the intended legal action against a coalition of NGOs representing rice farmers known as Padi Rescue.
Opposition leader Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said so far 83 opposition MPs, including eight from PAS, one from PSM and one independent, had signed the petition to publicly scrutinise the performance and public role of Bernas.
“We call for immediate action to be taken against Bernas and call for the recognition of the rights of anyone to scrutinise and question the performance of Bernas, which was set up to replace the National Padi and Rice Board (LPN), which was managing the national rice industry from 1994.
“We condemn the current action taken by Bernas to intimidate and silence Padi Rescue by issuing them threats of legal action.
“We hold that the production of rice, being an important essential food item, should not be monopolised, profited or controlled by any single and commercially-owned individual or company,” she said at a press conference at Parliament here today.
Wan Azizah urged the government to take immediate steps to stop Bernas from initiating legal action against Padi Rescue in connection with its memorandum submitted to the prime minister on Oct 20, 2017.
“We call for the re-establishment of LPN to return the public functions mandated to Bernas, which are due to expire in 2021, in order to protect the national rice industry.”
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malaysiakini.comVerified account @malaysiakini
Bernas threatens to sue NGO Padi Rescue for defamation
Bernas, the national rice importer, has issued a legal notice threatening to sue a coalition of rice farmer NGOs known as Padi Rescue for defamation.
The group, whose stated aim is to save the paddy industry, had on Oct 20 delivered a memorandum to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak calling for the re-establishment of the National Paddy And Rice Board (LPN) to regulate the national rice industry.
Bernas, which is owned by Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary, took over the functions of LPN in 1994, and is now the sole permit holder of rice imports.
The company is seeking damages, as well as the retraction of the statements made by Padi Rescue in the memorandum.
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Read more at https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/402610#sPwlPGouzfJgAzUA.99
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weehingthong 