NINE containers laden with sugar have been stranded at Labuan’s containerised port of Labuan Liberty Wharf for the past one week.

The essential item weighing 142.56 tonnes in the 20-foot containers were imported from Peninsular Malaysia to cater for local needs.

Labuan Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry director Junaidah Arbain said the sugar was imported by three wholesalers, namely Sazarice Wholesaler Sdn Bhd (71.28 tonnes), Chuan Huat Trading Co Sdn Bhd (47.52 tonnes) and Kelasmahir Sdn Bhd (23.76 tonnes).

“I have contacted the wholesalers and was made to understand that there have been unresolved matters between the wholesalers and their appointed agents to do clearance with the port operator,” she said today.

“We hope they are able to resolve the matter as soon as possible so that we can ease the shortage of sugar on this island.”  

She said the longer the wholesalers let the sugar stranded at the port, the more charges they would have to bear.

She said Labuan has been facing a shortage of sugar supply since late last year with all supermarkets and hypermarkets having to put a purchase limit of one packet of sugar per customer.

“There were times these supermarkets and hypermarkets ran out of stocks,” she said.

Junaidah said the ministry has approved nine wholesalers to import sugar from two main suppliers in the peninsula, namely Central Sugars Refinery (CSR) Shah Alam, Selangor and Malayan Sugar Refinery Perlis and Johor.

She said Labuan needs at least 120 tonnes of sugar every month for its estimated 110,000 residents. – Bernama, August 2, 2022.