GOVT APPROVES RM38 MLN TRANSPORT COST TO BRING SUGAR TO SABAH, SARAWAK AND LABUAN - ARMIZAN

PAPAR, March 28 (Bernama) -- The government has approved an allocation of RM38 million per year 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 the concern of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim by increasing transport cost allocation from RM19 million to RM38 million,” he told reporters after the Papar Parliamentary Ihya Ramadan ceremony at Datuk Salleh Sulong Hall here today.

The ceremony was officiated by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar.

Armizan, who is also the Papar Member of Parliament, said the Cabinet had also agreed to create 1,000 metric tonnes of sugar buffer stock in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan to ensure that there is no disruption in the supply of the basic commodity.

He said for this purpose, discussions would be held with two local sugar manufacturing companies, namely MSM Malaysia Holdings Berhad (MSM) and Central Sugars Refinery Sdn Bhd (CSR).

“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 the country’s sugar supply was imported from Thailand and Brazil after the closure of the sugar factory in Perlis.

Armizan said 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,” he said.

--BERNAMA