Traders eye other source of stock amid Sabah crisis

THE Canelar Barter Trade Association, the members of which are engaged in trading in Sabah, Malaysia, is eyeing other countries as source of stocks to be sold Zamboanga City.

Canelar Barter Trade Association Chairman Mark Basaluddin said they are seeking other countries as source of stocks after the trips of the commercial boats from this city to Sabah via Sandakan have been cancelled.

The Zamboanga-Malaysia route is being served for the past several years already by a local shipping firm that plies on a twice a week schedule.

Several other wooden-hulled ferries ply to Sandakan on a once a week schedule via the province of Tawi-Tawi.

Lieutenant Commander Jomark Angue, commander of Zamboanga Coast Guard Station, said the trip have been cancelled because of the Sabah conflict.

Angue said the cancellation of the trips is temporary until such time the situation in Sabah will be normalized.

Basaluddin said they are eyeing to acquire stocks from Indonesia and Thailand or even as far as China.

When that happens, Basaluddin said the products would be sold at a higher price already since there will be an added capital due to the distance of travel.

The commodities they purchase in Sabah and sold here include garments, food products, cosmetics and other household needs.

Aside from local customers, they also supply to traders doing business in the nearby provinces of Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga Sibugay. (Bong Garcia)