KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 16 — The current gloomy weather in Malaysia has disrupted the supply of vegetables to Singapore, who has complained of a 20 per cent decrease in stock and corresponding increase in prices, according to a report by Channel News Asia.

Singapore Fruit and Vegetable Importers and Exporters Association (SFVA) spokesperson Tan Chin Hian said key import produce from Cameron Highlands such as tomatoes, Japanese cucumber and iceberg lettuce, has dropped as much as 30 per cent while prices have increased by 40 per cent.

Leafy vegetables such as kangkung, chye sim and bayam from Malaysia has also seen a similar effect.

However the prices of vegetables from Thailand and Vietnam remain stable said a spokesperson at a supermarket chain in Singapore.

Advertisement

Malaysia is Singapore’s biggest importer of vegetables but the rain has weathered down the farmers produce.

Tan said that the association has been looking for alternative sources for vegetables from China and Taiwan to supply produce while Malaysia is affected by the current weather.

NTUC FairPrice’s director of fresh products Peter Teo told the media outlet that its policy was to have different supply sources so that when unexpected problems as such takes place they have an option.

Advertisement

“Apart from Malaysia and Singapore, we also source vegetables from alternate locations including Thailand, China and Indonesia. This also applies to our fruit sources ― for example, when supplies of bananas from Malaysia have been affected, we continue to keep a steady supply of the fruit from Philippines, Ecuador, and Mexico.”

The current cold winds and rains which began last week has many people experiencing a Malaysian “winter” with temperatures dropping to as low as 21 degrees in some areas.

Meteorological Department director-general Alui Bahari said the cold weather was the usual phenomenon during the period of the northeast monsoon, from November to March.