Enough food for festive season — Salahuddin

KUALA LUMPUR: The Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry ( MOA) has given its assurance that there would be sufficient food supplies during Ramadan and the upcoming Hari Raya.

Its minister, Salahuddin Ayub, said the MOA had planned three months in advance to ensure adequate availability of key items such as beef, chicken, fish, vegetables and fruits.

“We have taken proactive steps, such as increasing domestic output, enforcing import quota on selected food items, and imposing restrictions on fish exports,” he said in a statement yesterday.

For the month of Ramadan up to Hari Raya, the ministry has estimated a total output of 49,733 tonnes of beef ( local and imported), 351,046 tonnes of chicken ( local), 2,808 million eggs, 15,000 tonnes of round cabbage, and 108,500 tonnes of fish.

Salahuddin said, as such, prices should be stable despite the increase in demand during this festive season.

Consumers are advised to notify the MOA and Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism ( KPDNKK) if there are inadequate supplies and price mark-ups.

“Enforcement will be intensified with the support of KPDNKK to ensure there’s no hoarding of supplies and traders put price tags on their goods,” said Salahuddin.

Consumers can use the ‘ MyHargaTani’ and ‘Go Pasar Tani’ apps developed by the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority ( FAMA), and ‘ Price Catcher’ by KPDNKK for price comparison and information on goods. — Bernama