All padi mill operators in Malaysia, including Padiberas Nasional Berhad (Bernas), are required to obtain official approval from the Padi and Rice Regulatory Division to operate their purchasing centers after 7 PM. This directive ensures regulatory oversight of grain processing activities across the state.
This regulatory requirement is critical right now as the government intensifies its oversight of the rice supply chain to combat potential market manipulation and ensure transparency in grain processing. This move aligns with the broader push under the Control of Padi and Rice (Amendment) Bill 2026, which introduces stricter enforcement measures and higher penalties to safeguard domestic food security against the backdrop of declining cultivation areas and reliance on imports. Readers should view this as part of a comprehensive, state-led effort to tighten control over the industry's midstream activities, signaling that operators—regardless of their size—must now align their business hours with national compliance standards to help stabilize the nation's rice supply.