Johor Baru: The government has assured the public of an ample supply of sugar in the country in response to MSM Malaysia Holdings Bhd’s intentions to export premium white sugar, Gula Super, to Singapore in the coming year, reported The Star.
Lilis Saslinda Pornomo, the Director of the Johor Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry, clarified that the government’s authority extends to coarse and refined white sugar, not premium white sugar. She stated, “I believe that this matter is best answered by the Ministry because any decision (to export goods) is done at their level. At the same time, I believed that the government would always prioritize the welfare of the people, especially when it comes to protecting the needs and necessities of our consumers.”
Addressing concerns about potential shortages, Lilis emphasized that the company’s export focus is solely on premium white sugar and not on coarse and refined white sugar. She reassured me that the company is exporting premium white sugar and not coarse and refined white sugar, so there will not be any issues with the sugar supply in Johor.
Lilis made these comments during a media interaction after inaugurating the Festive Season Maximum Price Control Scheme at Jaya Grocer Austin Heights on Saturday (Dec 23). She was responding to queries regarding MSM Malaysia Holdings Bhd’s plans to export premium white sugar to Singapore in the coming year.
Underlining the government’s control over the pricing of refined white sugar, she noted that the current rates stand at RM2.85 per kilogram for coarse sugar and RM2.95 per kilogram for refined sugar, as stipulated by the Supply Control Act 1961. In contrast, Gula Super is priced at a recommended retail price of RM4.60 for a 1kg pack.
On December 6, MSM group chief executive officer Syed Feizal Syed Mohammad indicated the company’s strategic interest in targeting the Singapore market, citing the proximity between its factory in Johor and the neighboring country.
