Tawau hit by shortage of glutinous rice

TAWAU: Most shops, supermarkets and hypermarkets here are said to be running out of glutinous rice since 10 days ago.

This is believed due to delay in the shipment of the rice and the high demand during the three consecutive festival celebrations - Dumpling Festival, Harvest Festival and Ramadan/Aidilfitri.

Tawau Grocery Association vice-president Lim Re Fui said glutinous rice was in high demand during the three festive celebrations as consumers used it to make dumplings, tapai, biscuits, cakes and some other desserts.

Reportedly, only one container shipment had arrived in Tawau recently but without much glutinous rice and whatever was available was sold out very quickly.

Lim, who is also a grocery shop owner at Mile 4 Apas Road, disclosed that there would be a container shipment from Port Klang to Tawau in the next few days but is unsure whether it could arrive in Tawau before the Hari Raya or not.

He therefore hoped that suppliers, wholesalers and Padi Beras Corporation (Bernas) Tawau would take note of this matter and overcome it immediately in order to fulfill the needs of the Tawau community, especially those who will be celebrating Hari Raya Aidilfitri soon.

According to him, the association has not received any official complaints about this matter but grocery shop owners and business operators here have expressed concern.

Meanwhile, the Tawau Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism Department had yet to receive any official public complaint about this matter.