KUANTAN: Pahang is facing a shortage of coconut fruit since last August and that efforts to remedy the problem were being addressed urgently by the state government, the state assembly was told today.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Pahang Consumer Affairs and Human Resources Committee chairman Sim Chon Siang stated that due to the shortage of supply, the Federal Government had to import coconut from Indonesia. This situation has resulted in a slight increase in prices in the domestic market. The price of a coconut has now increased to RM3.50 per coconut because it has to be imported from Indonesia. Malaysia, along with Thailand, does not have enough supply and thus imports are necessary.

Sim explained that in the past four months, the price of concentrated coconut milk has risen by RM16. To produce a box of concentrated coconut milk, approximately four coconuts are required, and the cost for these coconuts is already RM14. This has led to an increase in prices, he noted. Sim’s comments were made in respo
nse to Zuridan Mohd Daud (PAS-DAMAK), who raised the issue while debating the Pahang Budget 2024 at Wisma Sri Pahang.

Zuridan had previously mentioned receiving complaints from entrepreneurs about the rising prices of coconuts and coconut milk. There is a belief that cartels may have manipulated these prices, contributing to the increase in the cost of coconuts and concentrated coconut milk.