Kelantan KPDN appoints 172 wholesalers and retailers to store 30% extra essential goods for monsoon season, with flood operations rooms activated
TANAH MERAH: The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living has appointed 172 wholesalers, retailers and suppliers across Kelantan to maintain additional essential goods stocks throughout the monsoon season.
Kelantan KPDN director Azman Ismail said all appointed premises must maintain an extra 30% stock from November until March next year.
The additional stock covers 26 categories of basic necessities including sugar, cooking oil, wheat flour, rice, eggs, petrol and diesel.
“Premises were selected based on their strategic locations, which are less prone to flooding, and their capacity to store the additional stock,” he said at the monsoon season preparedness programme here today.
Azman emphasized this measure is crucial to ensure residents in interior areas do not face shortages during flooding.
In Kota Bharu, seven retailers and five wholesalers have been appointed for the initiative.
Gua Musang has 12 retailers and 15 petrol stations receiving additional quotas.
Kelantan has 250 petrol stations total, each allocated different additional quotas based on location.
Flood operations rooms have been activated in Pasir Mas, Tanah Merah, Kuala Krai and Gua Musang.
These rooms operate until 10 pm daily to monitor supplies and road accessibility.
They coordinate with relevant agencies including the Social Welfare Department, Civil Defence Force and National Disaster Management Agency.
From January to October this year, Kelantan KPDN conducted over 94,208 premises inspections.
The ministry also performed 36,197 vehicle inspections at Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security Complex locations.
A total of 214 arrests were made involving cases of petrol, diesel and cooking oil smuggling.
Seizures amounted to RM4.62 million, involving 87,646 litres of petrol and 35,598 litres of diesel.
Authorities also confiscated 42,625 kilogrammes of cooking oil during this period.
“Most cases involved local offenders, with the highest number related to petrol and cooking oil storage,” Azman said.
The ministry will continue close monitoring to ensure the supply chain remains unaffected throughout flood season. – Bernama
