Therefore, he said, the government still bears up to RM10 billion for diesel subsidies despite saving RM4 billion a year as a result of the retargeting exercise.

Beliau berkata meskipun berdepan pelbagai cabaran termasuk kekangan kewangan, pihaknya yakin sasaran tersebut mampu dicapai sekali gus menempatkan Selangor pada kedudukan tiga teratas di kejohanan dwitahunan itu.

The state government, Amirudin said, had established the Selangor Rice and Rice Regulatory Authority (KSPDS) to handle issues related to shortages of stock in shops and markets.

"Namun, hasrat kerajaan negeri ini merupakan pelaksanaan yang membabitkan satu dasar besar dan memerlukan sokongan kewangan daripada kerajaan Persekutuan, selain kelulusan serta kebenaran daripada pemilik tanah berkaitan," katanya.

Amid reports of delays in Selangor over the land acquisition for the project, Amirudin said the matter was under a special committee comprising state and ECRL representatives.