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Government Considering Appoinment Of Special Suppliers For Small And Medium Sized Retailers

KUALA LUMPUR, June 8 (Bernama) -- The government isconsidering a proposal to appoint special wholesale sugar suppliers to smalland medium sized retailers as a means of overcoming sugar shortage.

Domestic Trade, Consumerism and Cooperatives MinisterDatuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the proposal was to avoid small and mediumsized retailers from depending on hypermarkets and supermarkets for theirsupply when faced with sugar shortage. 

"Through the initiative they can receive theirsupply directly from suppliers," he told reporters when winding up debateon the Direct Selling Bill 2010 at the Dewan Rakyat Tuesday.

Ismail Sabri when met at the Parliament lobby later saidthe proposal was still being studied to identify suppliers who are able tocarry out the task and responsibilities effectively.

In refuting claims that the proposal would lead to amonopoly by certain suppliers, Ismail Sabri said the government would set aspecial mechanism to allocate the sugar supply according to specific regions.

Meanwhile, the ministry has already issued 1,500 retaillicence of controlled goods to traders selling controlled items like sugar, flourand cooking oil.

The Ministry's chief secretary Datuk Mohd Zin Mohd Domsaid the numbers, however, does not reflect the number of applicationsreceived.

"We have received more than the number of licenceissued," he said.

He added that there were about 70,000 retailers in thecountry and by having a licence, retailers can apply to buy about 200kg ofsugar or more provided their application was backed with invoices of purchasefor two previous months.-- BERNAMA

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