MALAYSIA’S sugar cane industry will be developed to help meet the nation’s demand for sugar, Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli said.

He said that currently, the country is entirely dependent on importing raw sugar from Brazil following the closure of the sugar cane plantation in Chuping, Perlis, in 2012.

He said the government is identifying land parcels of up to 405ha in northern Perak for this purpose.

“The country’s raw sugar is imported, and when there are price increases or issues with currency and oil (prices), freight costs will be high.

“Therefore, there is a need for us to grow sugar cane and the government will arrange for the (logistics) chain to ensure planters will have ready buyers,” he said during the winding-up debate on the Supply Bill 2023 at the committee level for the Economy Ministry in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Malaysia’s sugar demand is currently met by national refined sugar producer MSM Malaysia Holdings Bhd.

Its refined sugar production has reached 2.05 tonnes a year and meets 60% of domestic market needs. – Bernama, March 14, 2023.