Ministry assures sufficient stock of rice in state

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SARIKEI: Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism state director Wan Ahmad Uzir Wan Sulaiman has assured that there is no shortage of rice in the state.

A check with Beras Nasional confirmed that there was sufficient stock of rice to meet normal needs, he said when asked by reporters after the closing ceremony of the Pilot Consumerism Programme at SK Abang Amin in Bintangor near here yesterday.

He said claims that there was a shortage of the essential commodity were only assumptions made by certain quarters following the severe floods in Thailand, explaining that the stock of the staple food was closely monitored by Beras Nasional,

In this respect, he advised the public not to be unduly worried.

“Like in most cases, it is panic-buying that causes shortage of essential items, especially the subsidised goods,” he pointed out, adding that there were also those who liked to buy in bulk for profiteering.

On the hike in chicken prices, Wan Uzir said his office had issued show-cause letters to traders involved.

He said the action was taken under Section 21 of the Price Control and Anti Profiteering Act 2010 which provides for  a fine of RM250,000 or up to three years’ imprisonment for individuals while a company is liable to a fine of up to RM500,000 for the first offence and up to RM1 million for the second offence.

Among those present at the ceremony officiated by Sarikei MP Ding Kuong Hiing were SK Abang Amin headmistress Safiah Tai, acting Meradong district officer Kueh Lei Poh and the ministry’s Sarikei chief Mohamad
Zawawi.