KOTA BHARU: The public has been advised to not over-buy essential food items during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri festive season to avoid supply shortages.

       Deputy Agriculture and Food Industry Minister II Datuk Dr Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh, however, gave the assurance that the supply of essential items in the market is sufficient to meet the demand for the Aidilfitri celebration.

       "The Ministry has held talks with chicken producers and meat importers, and they are prepared to cooperate in ensuring adequate food supply during the festive season.

       "We do not want consumers to buy chicken for a month supply because their children are home for the Eid celebration. This should not happen, just buy what is needed for Hari Raya,” he said.

       However, when asked to comment on a now-viral video claiming that there will be a shortage of chicken over the Hari Raya season, he did not rule out the possibility that there would be a shortage in some areas.

       Zawawi said this when speaking to reporters at the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority's (FAMA) Semarak Syawal Programme at the Rural Transformation Centre (RTC) near Tunjong, here on Saturday (April 30).

       The Pasir Puteh MP also advised the public to get their daily necessities at the My Best Buy Carnival Raya Programme on at 797 marketing outlets nationwide.

       Consumers get to enjoy a 10 to 20 percent discount on the price of goods at the carnival, he added. - Bernama