Volunteers urged to buy food stock from outside flood-hit states

KUALA TERENGGANU: The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) advises volunteers or individuals who want to provide food and essentials to flood victims during the coming monsoon season to get supplies from outside the disaster-hit states.

Deputy Minister Datuk Rosol Wahid said this was to ensure that stocks of food supply and necessities in the affected states are always sufficient for the local community.

"We also urge them (volunteers and individuals) to prioritise Malaysian-made products when purchasing aid for flood victims so as to support local entrepreneurs and traders," he told reporters after inspecting the Keluarga Malaysia Cheap Sales Programme (JMKM) at IQI Mart in Kampung Beladau Kepong here today.

Rosol said selected district producers, wholesalers and retailers nationwide are allowed to keep an additional stock of 30 per cent of the permitted storage limit, in preparation for disasters and emergencies.

He said this was to ensure a sufficient supply of daily necessities and food in the affected areas.

On a separate matter, Rosol called on consumers to be vigilant and alert when buying goods, including on e-commerce platforms, and ensure that the products bear the halal logo of the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) and credible foreign halal certification.

He said the ministry's investigation so far found that cases of soft candy with jam product containing pork gelatin and bearing a halal logo not recognised by Jakim, which have gone viral, did not occur in Malaysia.

"But KPDNHEP will continue to monitor, especially on e-commerce platforms, and urges the public to check on the ingredient labels before purchase. If you have doubts, please lodge complaints so that actions can be taken," he said.

-- BERNAMA