KOTA KINABALU: Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister Datuk Jamawi Jaafar said the state’s rice stockpile is sufficient to meet demand for up to six months.
He advised the public not to engage in panic buying following reports of shortages in several interior districts.
Jamawi said the State Government is continuously monitoring the supply of essential food items.
He said instructions have been issued to expedite the delivery of imported white rice to Keningau, Sook, Tenom, Kemabong and Sipitang.
Sabah Paddy and Rice Board general manager Datuk Dr Ramle Kasin, together with Bernas Sabah officers, conducted inspections of rice stock at the Kolombong storage centre, which showed that supply remains stable.
They also noted that rice supply has begun to be distributed to shops in Tenom, Kemabong, Sook and Keningau.
Bernas has distributed 53 tonnes of rice to the retail market in Tenom, and supply is considered sufficient with the cooperation of wholesalers, as panic buying has subsided.
Monthly demand stands at 470 metric tonnes, with an estimated daily requirement of 16 metric tonnes.
About 15 per cent (70 metric tonnes) of the required supply was delivered and distributed yesterday, exceeding the daily requirement of 16 tonnes. – Wu Vuide
Jamawi said the State Government is continuously monitoring the supply of essential food items.
