Sugar mills have been warned not to wait until the last moment to start stocking raw sugar supplies.

Instead they should look ahead and start sourcing for adequate stocks of raw sugar, said Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal.

He wanted the mills to ensure that there are sufficient supply of sugar so that there will not be a repeat of the vast shortage faced by consumers in the past few months.

Bernama quoted the minister as saying that sugar manufacturers must start to act now, including sourcing adequate stocks of raw sugar, to avoid hitches in its supply chain next year.

"They can hold discussions with the relevant ministry on their import needs," he said.

Mohd Shafie also said that his ministry has already resolved the sugar shortage problem which caused much difficulties to the public.

He said that 95 percent of the shortage problem has been sorted out and that there were sufficient stocks for the rest of the year.

Don't start hoarding

Meanwhile, Mohd Shafie's deputy S Veerasingam said this does not mean consumers can start buying more sugar than necessary.

Otherwise this would constitute hoarding and can cause another round of sugar shortage in the country, he said.

"The ministry's only request is for consumers not to buy more than what is needed as it would amount to hoarding. This was one of the reasons that we faced a sugar shortage earlier," Veerasingam was quoted as saying in the local media today.

He also said that recent checks by his ministry revealed that the majority of traders had not taken advantage of the forthcoming double festivals to increase prices.

In a related development, about 312 tonnes of sugar were shipped and unloaded in Kuching yesterday to assuage the shortage there.

Ministry officials believed the shipment will ensure sufficient sugar supply for the state during the festive season.