Sweet relief for Kelantanese

Sufficient stocks: A customer getting his supply of sugar from a grocery store in Tanjung Chat, Kota Baru. — Bernama

KOTA BARU: Residents in the Kota Baru district who had faced a shortage of sugar last week can heave a sigh of relief after supply to the area was restored.

Grocery wholesaler and retailer Ahmad Najmi Mohd Ashari, 36, from Tanjung Chat here, said he began receiving his sugar supply in stages since May 1.

He said even though he received only a limited supply, he was grateful as sugar was in high demand.

“Previously, I was able to get more than 4,000kg of sugar which could last a week. However, since the shortage of sugar and after the resumption of supplies on Monday, I only received about 2,500kg.

“As supplies are limited, I now have to limit my customers to between two and three kilogrammes only, and this too depends on the current supply which is sold at RM2.85 per kg,” he said when met by Bernama at his grocery store in Tanjung Chat yesterday.

He also said he was grateful to the government, especially the Kelantan branch of the Trade and Cost of Living Ministry, for being aware of the issues faced by the people and successfully resolving them in a short period of time.

Restaurant operator Rodiah Ismail, 44, who hails from Kampung Banggol, said her business suffered last week because of the sugar shortage.

“During that period, I was only able to survive with whatever sugar I had in stock and was forced to reduce its use in the food and drinks we served.

“However, now I am relieved as it is easy to get my sugar from grocery stores although there is a 2kg quota for each customer,” she said.

Consumer Kamarul Zaman Wan Mohamad, 60, from Kampung Chat said that last week he had a hard time trying to find sugar despite having gone to more than 10 grocery shops.

“I was forced to use condensed milk as a replacement to sweeten drinks and such. However, since yesterday we have been able to buy sugar easily in several grocery shops in the district.

“I hope this issue of sugar shortage will not recur in future since it is an essential item,” he said.

Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub has said that the sugar supply in the east coast has been restored.

Media reports attributed the problem to the temporary closure of MSM Malaysia Holdings Bhd’s sugar mills in Johor as well as Perai, Penang in conjunction with the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration, and these factories had resumed operations on April 25.