PAPAR, March 28 — The government has approved an RM38 million annual allocation to cover the cost of shipping refined white sugar from the Peninsula to Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan.
Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said a recent Cabinet meeting agreed with KPDN's recommendation to increase the transportation cost from 10 sen per packet of sugar to 20 sen starting next month.
“This reflects the Federal government’s concern to ensure that Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan do not have a shortage of refined white sugar.
“I am very grateful for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's concern in increasing transport cost allocation from RM19 million to RM38 million,” he told the press after the Papar Parliamentary Ihya Ramadan ceremony at Dewan Datuk Salleh Sulong today.
The ceremony was officiated by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Mohd Na’im Mokhtar.
Armizan, who is also the Papar MP, said the Cabinet had also agreed to create 1,000 metric tonnes of sugar buffer stock in Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan to ensure no disruption in the supply of the basic commodity.
For this purpose, discussions will be held with two local sugar manufacturing companies: MSM Malaysia Holdings Berhad and Central Sugars Refinery Sdn Bhd.
“The Federal government has also allocated a one-off payment of RM1 million for each buffer stock as the sugar producing company suffered losses,” he said, adding that Malaysia's sugar supply is imported from Thailand and Brazil after the closure of the sugar factory in Perlis.
A technical committee to monitor the price and supply of goods had also been institutionalised, which would be chaired by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development secretary-general across various ministries and related agencies.
“With regular meetings, they will not only be responsive to issues related to the price of goods and supplies but also make plans in advance to face the festive season,” Armizan said.
— Bernama
