Hamzah Urges Muftis To Add Cartel Rice Category For Zakat Fitrah Payment

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The Fatwa Committee and the Islamic Religious Council of each state have been urged to include the grade of “cartel rice” in the zakat fitrah payment rate for this year.
Opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin said this was due to the lack of local rice supply in the market over the past year.
“It is now the month of Ramadan, and the people need rice.
“(The people of) Kuala Terengganu don’t need to eat local rice anymore, but if they are not eating local rice, this month we have to pay zakat - which kind of rice are we going to pay zakat with? 
“I want to ask all the muftis, which rice price should we base our zakat on? It’s cartel rice,” said Hamzah during a press conference in Parliament today.
“So, I ask all the muftis to correct this so that cartel rice is included for zakat payment. We’ve been eating cartel rice for a year now,” added the Larut MP.
Opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin (centre)The zakat fitrah payment rate in each state is determined based on the type of rice used, such as Super Special Local 5 percent Rice, Broken Rice or equivalent, Parboiled Rice, Thai White Rice, Imported White Rice, Brown Rice, or other equivalents.
‘Issue should’ve been resolved before Ramadan’
Hamzah further questioned why local rice supply is still scarce despite the government’s announcement that the people would be able to enjoy local rice starting early March.
“They said, ‘It’s okay, on March 1, everyone can get local rice anywhere.’
“So, yesterday, I asked my officer to check a few supermarkets, and he visited several places - Giant, Econsave Bangi, and Giant Setapak. At Giant, the cheapest imported rice was RM33.10 for 10kg, and at Econsave, the cheapest imported rice was RM30.90 for 10kg,” he said. 
“In Bagan Serai, a supermarket ordered 300 packs of local rice but only received 20 packs. This is the real answer given to us. No explanation - just that we went to check, and this is what we found.
“Today, the real issue being raised is that the minister should have been prepared and resolved this problem before Ramadan,” he said.
TNB tariff
In another development, Hamzah also raised doubts over the government’s answers in regard to the electricity tariff in the country.
He said that the government’s previous announcement on Tenaga Nasional Bhd’s (TNB) proposal to hike rates had caused confusion to many.
“TNB has already issued a statement that the government has approved the Fourth Regulatory Period (RP4).
“However, on the same day, Dec 26, the prime minister replied that the government would not allow this tariff hike as it would affect the people.
“Then, Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof informed us that there has been no decision on increasing electricity tariffs for the peninsula until now. That was his answer, and on March 4, TNB’s announcement did not reflect the entire government’s decision. That was the answer given to me.
“He said TNB’s announcement was something that reflected the overall government decision because, at that time, the new tariff schedule had not been finalised. That was the answer given to me,” he said.
Hamzah said the contradictory statements prompted him to question the matter in Dewan Rakyat yesterday as it would confuse investors and the public at large.
“So, who is right? I question that. I’m sure TNB is not guilty, but I deliberately questioned TNB as if the company had erred because that’s the impression the government gave us.
“This is what makes us more confused… how can we determine that the government’s answer is correct? This is why I questioned them.
“This issue is affecting not only public confidence but also among foreign investors,” the Bersatu leader claimed.
Yesterday, the New Straits Times reported Hamzah asking the government what action is being taken against TNB after the latter allegedly made false announcements regarding electricity tariff increases by TNB, which violates the obligation for material information disclosure under the Securities Commission regulations.
“What TNB announced did not fully reflect the government’s decision, as the new tariff schedule had not yet been finalised, even though the base average rate had already been determined by the government,” Fadillah reportedly replied. - Mkini

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