FOOD ITEMS FOR FESTIVE SEASON MORE THAN ENOUGH, ASSURES MINISTER

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 3 (Bernama) -- The government has assured that there will be
sufficient food items for the coming festive season, with some stockpiled items
enough to last till the year end.

Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob
told a press conference after meeting with the relevant industry representatives
and government agencies today, that the government was assured of no shortage of
the items.

"The estimated monthly consumption of cooking oil by households is 40,000
tonnes while the quantity available is 70,346 tonnes. This means there is more
than enough although consumption has risen to five per cent (due to the coming
Eid, a celebration to mark the end of Ramadan).

"It's the same with all types of rice, including glutinous rice. Rice supply
has been increased by 200,000 tonnes, thus exceeding the demand.

"As for wheat, only 60 per cent of the stock have been used up. So, there's
also no shortage problem here," he said.

The minister also announced that 25 items had been placed under the Supply
Control Act 1961 to be enforced from Sept 1, 2009 to June 9, 2010.

The items include all types of butter, cheese and margarine, all types of
packet or bottled drinks, baking powder and flavouring essence, jelly and
agar-agar, meat and fresh or preserved innards, duck and other birds except
chicken, fresh and preserved eggs.

The other items are imported fresh fruits and pickled fruits, big onions and
shallots, garlic, dried chillies, pepper and other spices, whole or grated
coconut, all types of nuts, mushrooms and fungi, ghee, tamarind, dried or
pickled seafood, rice flour, cornflour, glutinous rice flour and potatoes.

Under the Act, offenders found guilty are liable to a fine of up to
RM100,000 (US$28,240) or three years' imprisonment for individuals and RM250,000
(US$70,600) for companies or corporate entities.

Ismail said some of these items also came under the Price Control Act 1946,
while the Supply Control Act was to ensure that irresponsible traders would not
hoard the items.

He said both Acts would also be enforced for Christmas, Hari Keamatan and
Hari Gawai for the first time, so as to be fair to all communities in
celebrating their festivals, in line with 1Malaysia.

Asked on Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai's statement that he would request
him to make the rapid test kits and H1N1 anti-viral drugs as controlled items,
Ismail Sabri said:

"I don't think medicines and drugs are under our jurisdiction, they're
under the Health Ministry. The difference is that a facial mask is not a
medicine or drug. It's a product like clothing.

"However, he (Liow) has not referred the matter to us," he said.

Ismail Sabri also reminded festive season shoppers not to spend too much and
to inform the ministry should they observe traders raising the prices of
controlled items.
-- BERNAMA