Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob on sugar 'shortage': "Let's just say that retailers say that they need 10 tonnes of sugar. It is entirely possible that their consumers only need a tonne, but the retailers would keep the remaining nine tonnes, and then sell it to food manufacturing industries which don't enjoy subsidised sugar.
"Sugar smuggling is a lucrative business," Ismail Sabri said.
The price of sugar in Thailand ranges between RM2.50 to RM2.90 a kg as compared to a mere RM1.45 in Malaysia.
The price of sugar was also reported to be much higher in the Philippines, Indonesia and Singapore.
Full story here: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/134768