Reduce the prices of goods, Jainab warns suppliers
Published on: Monday, January 19, 2015
Kota Kinabalu: Stern actions will be taken against suppliers who refuse to lower prices of goods without legitimate reasons, said Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister, Datuk Jainab Ahmad Ayid.She said the her ministry will work hand in hand with the Domestic Trade, Consumerism and Co-operative Ministry (KPDNKK) to tackle nonsensical price increase."KPDNKK Deputy Minister, Senator Dato Seri Ahmad Bashah Hanipah had commented recently on the price increase even after the price of diesel and petrol had been reduced.
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"I agree with him completely and when we ask why shopowners are not reducing the prices, they say it's because the suppliers are not reducing it."The suppliers gave the excuse that electricity and water bills have increase which I find is not a good reason," she said at the meet-the-people session at Kg Cenderakasih on Sunday.Jainab also said there are already cases involving unscrupulous suppliers but cannot give out the details as yet.Furthermore, she urged shopowners and the public to bring their complaints to the ministry so that further actions can be taken.
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She said with the launch of Borneo Mart, a government initiative to reduce the cost of living of rural people in Sabah and Sarawak, she is worried that certain food items may not be enough for the people."I urge the concerning parties to stop issuing licences to new outlets until there is enough supplies to go around.
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"If we have too many stores but not enough goods, like cooking oil and rice, to go around, some shopowners might take the opportunity to increase the prices. We need to take actions to avoid such matters from happening."Jainab also touched on the Goods and Service Tax implementation on April 1, saying that although there is no denying that prices on some goods and services will increase, the introduction of the new tax system will be a better outcome for the country. Adding that with the current tax system, only 1.3 million people in Malaysia, instead of 13 million people, are paying taxes.Meanwhile, the meet-the-people programme organised by the State Neighbourhood Watch Areas (KRT) of Kg Cenderakasih was the first of its kind.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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