Ismail: Cops are not stopping the transport of food

Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said claims that police were stopping vehicles transporting vegetables from Cameron Highlands were false.

"The police have given their assurance that these vehicles will be given easy passage.

"There are no restrictions on vehicles carrying raw materials and foodstuff," Ismail said during a press conference today.

Vegetable sellers and producers had told Malaysiakini yesterday that there was supply chain disruption for vegetables.

The problem stemmed from the mandatory reduction of foreign workers and reduced operating hours at wholesale markets which led to sellers reducing the amount they were buying from producers primarily because they didn't have enough workers to unload and process the goods.

This was causing problems for vegetable farmers upstream of whom some had resorted to dumping their produce or giving it away for free.

RamliMNor@RamliMNor

Saudara Wong Seng Yee dari Ringlet, Cameron Highlands, seorang pengusaha Kebun sayor di Cameron Highlands menderma sejumlah besar sayuran hasil tanaman kebunnya kepada masyarakat Sungai Koyan sebagai bantuan semasa kemelut wabak Covid 19 ini.

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 A businessman who spoke to Malaysiakini said some farmers considered giving away the vegetables for free but decided against it because it would cause mass gatherings and defeat the purpose of the MCO.

Another said lorry drivers were being asked for permits and letters from their employers. This led them to stop delivering altogether.

Apart from vegetables, Malaysiakini also reported that the fisheries industry was being hit by supply chain disruptions as well. - Mkini