Kota Kinabalu: The rice supply in Sabah remains sufficient and is being closely monitored, said Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin.
He said he met with Sabah Bernas operations chief Hervian Kirman and Sabah Padi and Rice Regulatory Deputy Director Rosman Shamsul on Thursday upon arriving in Kota Kinabalu to obtain the latest update on the situation.
Chan said recent panic buying among consumers was concerning but was not due to a shortage of supply, instead driven by the spread of unverified information that had caused confusion among the public.
He said such rumours could disrupt market stability, stressing that current rice supply levels in Sabah remain adequate and under control to meet public demand.
He added that assurances from Bernas were supported by increased monitoring by the State Government across the distribution chain, and urged the public to avoid excessive purchasing and rely on official information to maintain market stability.