Enough supply of essential goods – ministry

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KOTA KINABALU: The Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry has taken measures to ensure adequate supply of essential goods such as flour, sugar and cooking oil for the fasting month and Hari Raya.

Its director, Severinus Tukau, said that meetings with manufacturers, wholesalers and suppliers had been conducted a few weeks before the start of the fasting month.

“We have been given the assurance by suppliers of flour, sugar and cooking oil that there will be no shortage of these goods in view of the fasting month and upcoming Hari Raya.

“Requests for extra quota of cooking oil supply have been approved by the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), to add on 10 per cent more than the existing quota.

“And as for sugar, which we mostly import from West Malaysia, wholesalers have also given us the assurance that there will be enough supply,” said Severinus when contacted by The Borneo Post yesterday.

However, there is concern that consumers will resort to panic-buying, including retailers who stock up such goods based on the notion that stocks will run out.

“I would like to advise consumers not to panic-buy nor stock up on these goods as there is enough supply and the ministry is always taking efforts to ensure sufficiency of these goods.

“Panic-buying will only result in unnecessary shortage,” said Severinus.

He also advised consumers not to stick to a particular brand of goods such as cooking oil as there are various brands sold at the market which offered the same level of quality albeit at different prices.