Man In Kelantan Travels 100KM In Search Of Affordable Rice Amid Soaring Prices
According to the man, a bag of 10kg rice is selling well above the standard market rates in his village.
By Sadho Ram — 11 Oct 2023, 12:34 PM
A 41-year-old in Kelantan had to travel nearly 100km on his motorcycle away from home in search of affordable locally produced white rice
Anglah Angah, an Orang Asli man, is concerned over the prices of rice in his village Kampung Kelaik, Pos Blau, escalating to an astonishing RM50 for a 10kg bag — well above the standard market rates.
He emphasised that this inflated cost has put an immense strain on the finances of families like his.
According to Anglah, he has to allocate over RM200 per month of his earnings just for rice.
It's not only rice that has witnessed a surge in price; other essential commodities such as sugar and cooking oil have also seen a sharp rise in cost, he was reported as saying by New Straits Times.
In his family, a bag of 10kg rice only lasts a week
"There are eight members in my family, so 10kg of rice can only last for a week [...] I [had to travel] almost 100km by motorbike to come to Gua Musang town to get cheaper rice at only RM39 for 10kg," he said.
Anglah acknowledged that retailers also face the same high purchasing prices in town and are driven to make profits, but added that this economic reality further exacerbates the burden on families like his.
Anglah also highlighted that the escalating prices of essential goods have created a significant challenge, especially given his income source primarily involves selling forest products like bamboo
"We, the Orang Asli community, are increasingly struggling and feeling the impact of rising prices. While we used to rely on cassava farming, our orchards have now become Musang King durian farms," he said.
Another Orang Asli, 30-year-old Along Uda, expressed the same concerns.
"Most of us sell bamboo in Blue Valley, Cameron Highlands (Pahang), at a price of 50 sen per stick. The price of bamboo is getting cheaper but the price of rice and other food is increasing. We are really affected by the current situation. Before, we could rely on tapioca, but now even tapioca is difficult to get because most of the area has been developed for the Musang King durian project," Along was quoted as saying by FMT.
