PASIR GUDANG: There is an ample supply of sugar to sustain the country's needs, says Fuziah Salleh.
The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Deputy Minister said the ministry has yet to receive complaints on sugar shortage.
"Normally, when there are difficulties in getting sugar, the problem is with the distribution, not the production.
"Sometimes it is because the stock from suppliers has yet to reach the shops ordering them.
"These are usually isolated incidents that will be resolved in a few days. It is not a problem on supply," she said.
She added that two local sugar-producing companies - MSM Malaysia Holdings Bhd and Central Sugars Refinery Sdn Bhd (CSR)- produce 42,000 metric tonnes of sugar monthly.
"They have been abiding by the order from the government so far, and the ministry is also monitoring their production closely.
"The two companies have admitted that there were some production issues initially due to the high cost of imported raw materials, but they have been resolved," she said.
On a separate matter, Fuziah said that the owner of a roadside restaurant that allegedly charged a staggering amount for a meal had received a RM1,500 compound notice.
She said that the compound notice was issued for not displaying the price of food and selling food at an unreasonable price.
A video posted on Facebook by a user named Ekin Cahaya, where she showed a receipt for RM1,260 after eating at the restaurant, went viral.
On Oct 3, Johor Domestic Trade and Cost of Living director Lilis Saslinda Pornomo said that the ministry was investigating the case under Section 21 of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.
