MALAYSIA: SUPPLY OF IMPORTED FISH RETURNS

KUALA LUMPUR, March 4 (Bernama) -- Supply of imported fish returns to the market as fish importers resume their operations after a two-day boycott due to a dispute over the use of food grade insulated fish boxes.

"Supply is restored. We are told that importers have resumed imports since
yesterday. This will certainly bring cheers to consumers," Lembaga Kemajuan Ikan
Malaysia (LKIM) deputy director-general Mohad Khazin Hamzah told Bernama when
contacted.

LKIM is an agency the responsibility to upgrade their socio-economic fishing
industry and fisheries local.

Lorries carrying fish began entering the country with 3,500 boxes through
Bukit Kayu Hitam, 200 boxes through Kuala Perlis and 50 boxes through Kuala
Linggi while Kelantan received a supply of 2,000 boxes.

The dispute over the insulated boxes, which are more expensive than ordinary
boxes, was resolved yesterday after a meeting between importers and Agriculture
and Agro-based Industry Minister Noh Omar in Putrajaya.

LKIM made it compulsory to use the box to ensure fish imported into the
country are fresh and safe for consumption.

Malaysia imported 30 per cent of its fish supply and of the amount, 80 per
cent were are Indonesia and the rest from Thailand.

In ALOR SETAR, supply was expected to be fully restored in two or three
days, said Datuk Yusoff Ismail, chairman of fish importers and wholesalers
group.

"We have resume imports and consumers in major towns should no longer be
worried over the shortage in the supply," he told reporters.

In KUANTAN, the prices of fish remained unchanged.

A fishmonger at Tanjung Api market, Abdullah Mamat, 56, said he did not face
problems obtaining his supply. "I took 200kg of fish from the LKIM jetty. No
problem in the supply," he said.

In IPOH, traders are forced to sell fish from their old stock as the new
supply has yet to arrive.

"The price is as usual because we are just selling from old stock,"
fishmonger Yen Yew Meng said.

In KOTA BAHARU, the sale of fish resumed after a one-day halt due to the
shortage in the supply.

A check at Siti Khadijah market showed that only several stalls were open
but according to a trader, Mek Jah Jusoh, 60, supply of fish was sufficient,
albeit at a slightly higher price.

In KUALA TERENGGANU, supply outstripped demand, especially in Payang and
Cabang Tiga markets.

"Its maybe because the salary for last month was paid early and consumers
are cautious about their spending," a trader at Cabang Tiga market, Jusoh Musa,
said.


In KANGAR, fish traders and restaurant operators heave a sigh of relief at
the government's quick intervention to solve the issue.

A trader at the Kangar central market, Adnan Ahmad, 30, said although there
were rumours that prices would increase, they continued to sell fish at the
normal price.

In JOHOR BAHARU, fish prices are largely unchanged as supplies are mostly
sourced from local fishermen.

"Only 20 per cent of the supply are imported," a trader at the Larkin
market, Sabarudin Saim, 42, told Bernama.

He supported the ruling requiring importers to use high grade fish boxes,
saying the old ones were no longer suitable.

Housewife Hanisah Abdullah, 44, said she was satisfied with the supply and
the price of fish since the ruling took effect yesterday.

"If there is an increase in the price, it is still within the consumers'
means," she said.

-- BERNAMA