SPIRITUAL AI

RI's neighbors hit by rice crisis, situation increasingly dire Malaysia is reportedly experiencing a rice crisis. Some analysts even warned that the situation could get worse if Kuala Lumpur did not take further steps.  In recent weeks supplies of locally produced rice have dwindled as consumers switched to these cheaper local varieties following a 36% increase in the price of imported rice taken by Malaysia's sole rice importer, Bernas, on September 1.  Local rice, which controls 65% of the market, is price-controlled and sold at 2.6 ringgit (Rp. 8,600) per kilogram. For imported rice, which mostly comes from India, Thailand, Pakistan and Vietnam, the price now reaches up to 4 ringgit (Rp. 13,200) per kilogram.  Supermarket chain Mydin said its distributor's usual weekly deliveries of 10kg packets of local rice had fallen gradually since January from around 17,000 to just 2,000.  "As soon as local rice is delivered to our shop, the stock will run out withi