THE Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry has launched Op Manis to address the sugar shortage in Kelantan and Terengganu. 

The ministry’s enforcement director-general Azman Adam said the special operation in the two states will last a week, starting today. 

He said among the objectives of Op Manis is to ensure no irresponsible sellers are hiding sugar to later sell it at high prices. 

“Our focus is also to see if there are any smuggling activities at the Kelantan border.

“Ministry enforcement teams in Kelantan and Terengganu will carry out detailed monitoring to ensure the supplies reach consumers as scheduled,” he told reporters during an inspection at a warehouse in Gong Badak, Kuala Nerus.

Azman said the nearly two-week-long sugar shortage is expected to be resolved next week.

He said wholesale companies in Kelantan and Terengganu have started getting supplies from two sugar producers – MSM and CSR. 

He reminded wholesalers to distribute sugar quickly, especially to rural areas. 

“Please distribute immediately and prioritise ordinary consumers. Retailers should not hide supplies and then sell them at high prices like what happened in in Kelantan.

“We have taken action against the business in Kelantan that committed the offence,” he said, adding that the ministry received 11 complaints for various related offences in the state, including for hiding supplies and selling goods above the controlled price. – Bernama, May 3, 2023.