Malaysia might need to import vegetables from Vietnam

The vegetable output in Malaysia has been reduced significantly due to the serious impacts from El Nino which has caused a spike in vegetable prices. Worryingly, the price of vegetables in some parts of the countries have doubled recently.

Malaysian Indian Restaurant Owners Association’s honorary chairman R. Ramalingam Pillai said the government should allow imports of vegetables from other countries to help ease the negative impacts from the price spike.

He added if the government does not introduce any timely response, many restaurants will have to close due to increasing operating costs.

Federation of Malaysian Vegeta­ble Farmers’ Association president Tan So Tiok said until the weather gets more favorable for vegetable farming, the government should import more vegetables from other countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam , Thailand and China, even though these countries are also facing shortages due to climate effects.