“During the first meeting, the council discussed on the need to have a stockpile of the goods not merely due to the worldwide shortage but for use during disasters,” he said after launching the “Product Malaysia Citarasa Kita” at Mydin Hypermarket in USJ.

He said the council would also discuss requests by manufacturers to increase the prices of the essential goods.

“There are also requests to increase the prices of certain grade of rice, we will look into all this,” he added.

Asked about the global rice shortage and if supply was adequate in the country, Shahrir said Padi Beras Nasional was the sole importer of rice and that he did not have details on the matter.