As the government assures Singaporeans that there are adequate rice for all Singaporeans, Singaporeans will do their usual kiasu stunt and wipe the entire island of rice stockholding clean. Now, price of a bag of rice will definitely go up. So much for the three months stockpile which seems to be non-existent.

Will there be a mass exodus to Malaysia to buy rice? Afterall, Malaysia has plenty of rice and the supermarket is still stocked up with rice. That is of course only for the bravehearted who will endure the torture of going through a “supposedly” jammed causeway. Even then, be prepared for Malaysian authorities with their ever changing policies depending on which of the bed their boss woke up that morning. They may be out to stop your party. That’s right, no rice for you Singaporeans, they shout.

This missing phenomenon is widely seen in Phillipines. O, and Hong Kong too.

Occasionally I question where the missing rice are. Afterall, there is no significant increase in population in Asia. There is no reduction in rice production. In fact there is a price increase for rice. Are there unethical rice traders who are hoarding rice to push the price of rice up only to release the stock later? If so, they are doing it quite succesfully. And more, they will starve a few Filipinos to death.

So tell me, where is my rice.