Manufacturers urged to capitalise lower fuel prices, weaker ringgit
Published on: Friday, January 30, 2015
Kota Kinabalu: Deputy Chief Minister cum Industrial Development Minister Datuk Raymond Tan on Thursday urged manufacturers to capitalise on the lower global fuel prices and weaker Malaysian ringgit to boost exports. He said this is the window of opportunity for manufacturers to increase their production and take advantage of the cheaper fuel to export their goods. "This is the time that we should benefit because investors have more spending power to buy our produce. ADVERTISEMENT "We also anticipate more visitors would come to Sabah and purchase our produce," he told reporters here. On the oil and gas industry, he said the situation may not be as good especially in the upstream activities that may see them review their production rate lower. Still, Tan said, it is too early to comment on the impacts of the lower global fuel prices and weaker currency, but the situation would likely be known within two months. "As a general rule, the prices of items will go down due to the cost of transporting them going lower. Although the impact may be positive on certain sectors that are indirectly connected to the oil and gas industry, others may experience the opposite." ADVERTISEMENT Still, the Industrial Development Ministry would continue to monitor these trends until the situation normalises, he added.
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Meanwhile, Tan also urged all parties in dispute over the posting of 49 Jawi, Al-Quran, Arabic and Fardhu Ain (JQAF) teachers to sit down and have a consultation. He said this in relation to the recent report in a local Chinese newspaper quoting former Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Chau Tet Onn that more than 500 Islamic studies and JQAF teachers will be sent to Chinese-medium schools in the State this year. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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Education Director Datuk Jame Alip has denied such allegations, adding that Chau's statement was inaccurate, rash and may cause racial discord. Towards this end, Tan's only advice is that all of them should go for a consultation to put to rest the issue, adding that as Malaysians "we are free and open to discuss all sorts of issues with an open mind."