KUALA LUMPUR, February 24 — Padiberas Nasional Berhad (Bernas) will share profits from rice imports by contributing 30 per cent of its nett profit to rice farmers, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today.

This is in addition to the RM60 million contribution that Bernas will continue to provide, he said.

"I would like to thank Bernas for its willingness to continue contributing to the welfare of our paddy farmers. This will go a long way towards helping them with their livelihood,” he said when tabling Budget 2023 in Parliament today.

Anwar, who is the finance minister, earlier said that the government will continue to channel subsidies and incentives amounting to RM1.6 billion for fertiliser, hill rice (padi huma) and rice prices.

"A cash contribution of RM200 a month or three months or a season will also be distributed to 240,000 farmers amounting to a total of RM228 million,” he said.

As Malaysia’s state trading enterprise (STE) in the international rice market, Bernas is authorised to ensure the stability of the domestic rice market and the country’s food security.