Kuala lumpur: The Control of Padi and Rice Act (Amendment) Bill 2026 was tabled for its first reading in the Dewan Rakyat today, aiming to broaden the authority to set padi and rice prices and heighten penalties for violations of the act's provisions. Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu announced that the bill's second and third readings are also scheduled for the current Dewan Rakyat session.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the bill's text, accessible on the official Parliament portal, outlines proposed amendments across five main clauses, addressing several provisions under Act 522. Clause 3 targets an amendment to Section 22, enhancing penalties for offences under the act or any regulations made under Act 522 that lack specific penalties.

Subclause 3(a) suggests raising the maximum fine for individuals, including directors or officers of a corporate body, from RM15,000 to RM250,000, and from RM25,000 to RM500,000 for repeat offences. Subclause 3(b) proposes increasing the maximum fine for a corporate body from RM25,000 to RM500,000, and from RM50,000 to RM1 million for subsequent offences.

Furthermore, Clause 2 proposes changes to paragraph 4(2)(c) of Act 522, allowing the director general, with prior ministerial approval, to enforce maximum or minimum pricing for padi or rice. The bill states, 'It is consequential to the amendment made to section 29 of Act 522 which now empowers the Minister to prescribe the grades of rice and the price control for the graded rice.'

Clause 4 aims to amend Section 29, granting the Minister authority to establish regulations related to licensing padi purchasers, rice grading, and price control for graded rice, as well as managing the movement of padi or rice. The bill clarifies, 'This clause also seeks to provide that any regulations made under Act 522 may prescribe an act or omission in contravention of the regulations to be an offence and may prescribe penalties of a fine not exceeding RM15,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or both.'

Finally, Clause 5 addresses exceptions, ensuring that any investigations or proceedings initiated or ongoing before the act's commencement date will proceed as if the principal Act remained unamended.