KUALA LUMPUR: The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry has rolled out plans to ensure the continued availability of essential goods during the ongoing northeast monsoon season, which began in November 2024.
Its minister, Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, has also called on individuals and organisations wishing to offer assistance to source essential supplies from areas not affected by the floods.
He said this would help avoid disruptions in the supply of goods in the flood-affected areas, ensuring that local residents can access them and that relief agencies operating at flood evacuation centres can use the supplies for aid distribution.
"In facing the ongoing monsoon season, which began in November 2024, the ministry's role is to ensure that there is a sufficient supply of essential daily goods in the market," he said in a statement today.
Armizan said the ministry's approach involves implementing a contingency plan by appointing a dedicated district retailer (DDR) and dedicated district wholesaler (DDW) for each district nationwide.
He said their role is to ensure the supply of daily essential goods to flood-affected areas.
To date, Armizan said there are 1,369 DDRs and 635 DDWs across the country, including 160 DDRs and 74 DDWs in Terengganu.
Following the announcement from the Malaysian Meteorological Department on the start of the Northeast Monsoon, Armizan said each DDR and DDW will be allowed to store an additional 30 per cent of stock beyond the usual storage limit set by their licences.
He said the ministry's Enforcement Command Centre will coordinate and address any complaints and reports of supply disruptions of essential daily goods.
"The ministry also ensures the preparedness of daily goods deliveries from outside the flood-affected areas and states. This includes the delivery of fuel supplies such as diesel and petrol through a mobile refuelling service in cooperation with Petronas. This contingency plan is designed to prevent disruptions in the supply of goods and to avoid excessive price increases due to shortages," he said.