The shortage of durian supply against a demand surge, and not its export to China, has been pinned as the main cause of the soaring price of the prized fruit.

Several in the durian trade when met by Malaysiakini, countered Prime Minister Najib Razak's claim on Thursday that exports to China had led to the price going up as high as RM100 per kilogramme.

“Durian is indeed in short supply because he wants it, I want it, everyone wants it. So the prices are now a bit more expensive,” said Cheah Kim Wai, 36, who operates a durian stall at SS2, Petaling Jaya.