CONSUMER ASSOCIATIONS URGE GOVT TO TIGHTEN ENFORCEMENT

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 25 (Bernama) -- The government should carry out 24-hour
monitoring and enforcement activities to ensure there was no artificial shortage
of sugar, Federation of Malaysian Consumer Associations (FOMCA)
Secretary-General, Muhammad Shaani Abdullah said Tuesday.

He added that lapse in enforcement and monitoring had resulted in shortages
of the commodity in many parts of the country.

Muhammad told Bernama that although the Domestic Trade, Cooperative and
Consumerism Ministry had taken various steps to overcome the problem, it had yet
to strictly enforce regulations which required manufacturers to keep proper
records of movement of sugar.

"The ministry must make it mandatory for these manufacturers to produce
their records on a daily basis so that it could be scrutinised by the
enforcement officers and immediate steps taken to rectify the situation," he
said.

Muhammad said enforcement officers should also liaise with hypermarkets
and wholesalers to ensure continuity in supply.

"There were instances when retailers complained that they did not receive
sufficient supply and fingers were pointed at wholesalers," he added.

Meanwhile, the government had assured that the price of sugar would be
retained at RM1.45 (US$0.41) per kilogramme and that there would be sufficient
stock for the coming festive season.

Muhammad said the ministry should take proactive measures to ensure that
there would be no shortage of flour, oil, rice, milk and other essentials in
view of the approaching festive season.

"It is usually during these period that we encounter shortages of such items
and the ministry should be prepared with a contingency plan to tackle the
problem when it arises," he added.
--BERNAMA