No shortage of rice in Sabah, says Ministry

KOTA KINABALU: There have been no reports regarding shortage of rice supplies in Sabah stores, says the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry.

Sabah Padi and Rice Regulatory (KPB) director Ab Alim Multazam said the body has been monitoring rice stocks in the market.

“At this moment, the rice stocks are stable. If there is a shortage, we will restock the supplies at the concerned locations,” he said when contacted on Wednesday (Sept 6).

Ab Alim said this in response to a photo of a sign purportedly taken at a Sabah store notifying consumers that rice purchases would be limited.

The sign said customers can now only buy two 10kg rice packets and four 5kg rice packets per consumer.

A message accompanying the photo urged those living in town areas in Sabah to stock up earlier, claiming that the whole of Sabah was short on rice supplies.

The photo was shared widely over social media within the past several days.

The photo that was shared widely on social media.

Ab Alim said he had yet to receive any report on the matter or the store that supposedly put up the sign.

“Probably, the trader was trying to control rice purchases due to a lack of supplies. But like I mentioned earlier, the rice stocks are stable for now,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ab Alim said there was no report of panic buying among consumers following the announcement of a price increase for imported white rice.

He also warned the people not to create or spread false information, particularly on rice supplies, as this may cause public alarm.