KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the Government would do whatever it takes to protect the people from inflationary pressures but it would be dependent on the Government's financial capacity.

He was responding to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who said in his speech during Umno's 62nd anniversary that food security was of paramount importance to the people.

"We must take quick action to solve the problem. Spending about RM4bil is a necessity now to ensure enough food supply."

Abdullah said party members might not want to listen to such things but they had to understand the situation, especially with padi growers already calling for an increase in price of padi due to the increase in the price of goods generally.

"They get subsidies for fertiliser and seeds, but they have said it is not enough because they can't be forced to eat only rice."

He then said some steps to ease the problems would be announced today.

When contacted, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Samad said one of the announcements would definitely deal with rice.