Rice wholesalers stage peaceful protest
By Philip Wong, The Borneo Post
June 7, 2008
Demonstration against Bernas a way to get message across: Group
SIBU: More than 20 rice wholesalers staged a peaceful protest in front of Bernas office in Upper Lanang Road yesterday morning over Bernas’ lack of transparency in distributing rice to members of the Sibu Rice Wholesalers’ Association.
They claimed that Bernas seemed to favour certain wholesalers, which had caused rice shortage in the town over the past few weeks.
A spokesman for the group, rice vendor Eric Wong said the protest was a way to get their message across to the relevant authorities so the problem could be solved in an amicable manner.
“We also plan to lodge a police report over the lack of transparency and unfair distribution of rice by Bernas, and hopefully this will put a stop to the (unfair) practice,??? he added.
Many protesters arrived as early as 9.30am, holding a banner that said Bernas was being unfair in selling rice to ‘subsidiary’ companies at cheaper rate compared to other wholesalers. They also called on Bernas to be more transparent in the distribution of rice.
A police party led by acting police chief, Supt Zamani Hamdan, was at the scene to ensure public order was maintained.
DAP leaders, including its state chairman Richard Wong Ho Leng, and publicity chief David Wong were also at the scene to offer moral support to the protesters.
About 10 minutes later, the protesters dispersed, and immediately after that, a rice-laden lorry was seen exiting from the (Bernas) office.
Chairman of Sibu Rice Wholesalers’ Association, Yeo Eng Teck, had earlier criticised Bernas for being the root cause of the rice shortage here.
“There is actually no shortage. The whole problem lies with the pricing. If the pricing system is right the people need not have to go through all the hassle and the fear of facing rice shortage,??? he said.
According to Yeo, Bernas was selling the five per cent Super Rice at RM1,450 per metric tonne to its ‘subsidiary’ companies but at RM3,330 per metric tonne (or RM3.30 per kg) to other wholesalers.
“Worst still, we were told to sell the (same) rice at RM2.80 per kg, which effectively means we will be making a loss of RM0.50 per kg. This does not even include forwarding and other handling charges. This is very unfair to us. We are using the same licence to sell rice. Why the double standard.???
Wong meanwhile said the protest was a way to get the wholesalers’ message across to the relevant authorities
“This is a strong signal to the government that the people are facing some problems, and the message was delivered in a most legitimate way – against Bernas for lack of transparency in the distribution of rice,??? he said.
Wong said everyone had the right, under the law, to stage peaceful assembly.