The government assures that essential goods remain available despite the second wave of the global supply crisis, with potential delays but no total disruption.
KOTA KINABALU: The government assures that the supply of the country’s basic necessities will continue to be guaranteed even as the world faces a second wave of the global supply crisis.
Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin said that although there are disruptions to the supply chain, it does not mean that the supply will be cut off.
“Supply may be temporarily delayed but should not be cut off. If the supply is cut off, even if there is money, it cannot be bought,” he told reporters after officiating the three-day Sabah International Food Expo (SIFEX), which began yesterday, at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) here today.
Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof was reported to have said that the government will focus on three main strategies in facing the second wave of the global supply crisis, namely ensuring the basic needs of the people are always met, extending the supply period through prudent management and distribution of resources, and curbing price increases.
Chan said the government’s strategy at this time is to ensure the continuity of supply so that the people can still obtain essential goods, even though there may be price increases or slight delays.
Using fuel management as an example, Chan said the government took a control approach such as reducing petrol purchase quotas to ensure a more balanced and continuous distribution.
However, he said that despite concerns about the global crisis, domestic economic activity remains vibrant with business transactions proceeding as usual, reflecting Malaysia’s resilience in facing global challenges.
He said Malaysia is also seen as one of the countries in Southeast Asia that demonstrates the ability to adapt to supply chain disruptions, thereby reducing the impact on consumers.
Regarding the programme, Chan said that SIFEX, themed “Tasting Tomorrow’s Market,” successfully gathered around 400 booths from various brands and local food products, and also included participants from Indonesia.
He also said the event, in its fourth edition this year, received support from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), proving that the programme has the potential of being a tourism hub.
“This year, SIFEX not only features brands from Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak but also from neighbouring countries such as Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines, as well as Taiwan,” he added.
