TELUPID: The Padi and Rice Regulatory (KPB) Authority and the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) conducted a joint operation, dubbed “Ops Jamin”, which saw eight retail shops, including supermarkets, in Telupid and Tongod inspected (pic).
All the premises except for one were found to have sufficient supply of rice.
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The premises with lack of supply was due to a delay in the supplier’s rice delivery.
Sandakan KPB Chief Mohamad Saiful Nizam said it had called the supplier to speed up the delivery to the premises.
The operation also ensured that the price of rice on sale was affordable and reasonable.
“We found the selling price to be reasonable and affordable based on the review of the rice purchase invoice from the supplier to the stores.
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“However, there is a difference in the price of rice between rural and urban locations, with the cost of rice in rural areas being marginally higher as a result of transportation cost associated with each shipment of rice,” he said in a statement.
In order to ensure that consumers in the rural areas can purchase rice at an affordable and reasonable price, he said KPB recommended that traders make an acceptable profit margin for each pack of rice sold.
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Additionally, buyers should be aware that the factors that drive up the price of rice globally, not just locally, are what determine the increase in the price of imported rice.
“The KPB’s effort in the current situation is to ensure the supply of rice is always sufficient and to monitor rice sale activities so that no trader takes advantage of or violates any regulations under the Control of Paddy and Rice Act 1994,” he said.
Sandakan KDPN Chief Enforcement Officer Azdy John said the supply of essential goods such as sugar, wheat flour, cooking oil packets and rice in Telupid and Tongod is stable.
“Most retailers in Telupid and Tongod receive their supplies from wholesalers appointed under the Program Prihatin Keluarga Sandakan initiated by the Sandakan KPDN Branch since April 2022 and has succeeded in stabilising the supply.
“There is no panic buying among consumers for essential goods,” he said.
He said a compound worth RM500 was issued against a retailer for violating Section 14(6) of the Weights and Measures Act 1972 for using or possessing unverified weighing machine.
Meanwhile, the supply of subsidised 1kg polybag cooking oil is sufficient to meet the needs of consumers in Kunak and Semporna.
KPDN Semporna branch enforcement chief Dr Jong Jee Leong said the presence of a subsidised cooking oil packaging factory in Kunak ensures adequate supply of the item for consumers in both districts.
“As of yesterday (Tuesday), there are 15 tonnes of subsidised cooking oil in Kunak, and Semporna’s current stock is five tonnes,” he told reporters after visiting the Kunak Refinery (Cooking Oil Packaging Factory) with members of the Gerakan Pengguna Semporna (GPD) and Semporna KPDN officers.
Jong said he did not receive any complaints regarding subsidised cooking oil issues from consumers in Kunak and Semporna.
“Nevertheless, we will continue to enforce and oversee operations to ensure a consistent supply in both districts.”
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