KUALA LUMPUR: Sipitang Member of Parliament Datuk Matbali Musah has urged the Federal Government to grant the Lembaga Padi dan Beras Sabah (LPBS) greater authority to monitor rice supplies in Sabah.
Speaking during the debate on the Paddy and Rice Control (Amendment) Bill 2026 in the Dewan Rakyat, he said such empowerment is crucial to ensure that any issues affecting rice supply can be identified and addressed promptly.
He also proposed that LPBS be entrusted with a more significant role as a strategic partner of the Federal Government, particularly in monitoring rice supplies, collecting stock data, and carrying out joint enforcement operations.
According to him, LPBS should also play a greater role in the state’s food security planning and in coordinating rice distribution during times of crisis.
“This approach is not intended to usurp the Federal Government’s authority, but rather to strengthen cooperation in the best interests of the people of Sabah,” he said.
Matbali added that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security should work closely with the Sabah Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry to establish stronger strategic cooperation.
Describing the Sabah Government’s decision to establish LPBS as a forward-looking initiative, Matbali also raised three key issues that he said the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security should address regarding paddy and rice in Sabah.
“First, why are subsidies for paddy farmers in Sabah still limited to six acres when the farming structure, land size and production costs in Sabah differ significantly from those in Peninsular Malaysia?
“Second, can the Ministry guarantee that Sabah’s monthly allocation of 25,000 metric tonnes of rice will be supplied consistently without shortages or delays?
“Third, is the Government prepared to establish a Sabah Rice Buffer Stock and provide LPBS with a greater role in monitoring supplies, managing stockpiles and planning the state’s food security?” he asked.
Commenting on the Bill, Matbali described it as a new safeguard for the country’s food supply system.
“It strengthens monitoring, enhances enforcement, curbs market manipulation and dismantles the influence of cartels.
“More importantly, it restores public confidence that the Government will not allow the nation’s staple food to continue being exploited by irresponsible parties,” he said.
He therefore expressed his full support for the proposal to impose heavier penalties on those who violate laws governing the paddy and rice industry.
Matbali also urged the Government to identify more new granary areas and adopt modern technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), to accelerate the development of the paddy industry.
He noted that Sabah still possesses vast tracts of land with strong potential for paddy cultivation. Along the west coast alone, from Papar to Sipitang, more than 4,000 hectares have been identified as suitable for paddy development.
“If these areas are developed using modern farming methods, mechanisation, smart irrigation systems and advanced technologies, Sabah has the potential to become one of the country’s major contributors to the national rice supply,” he said.
