Price control scheme big help to consumers
KOTA KINABALU: Former Sabah MIC secretary, Ron Ganasegaran thanked Putrajaya for including more items in the list of control items in view of the coming Chinese New Year celebration next week and MCO period.
On January 28, Ron voiced out the need for Domestic Trade and Consumers Affairs (KPDNHEP) Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi to include more essential products as controlled price items in conjunction with the CNY celebration on Feb 12-13.
“I and the consumers in Sabah are delighted and very happy that our request did not fall on deaf ears,” he said.
Ron is reacting to the announcement of Nanta when the latter officially launched the Festive Season Maximum Price Control Scheme (SHMMP) Friday in Peninsular Malaysia.
The minister has listed 16 items under the SHMMP in conjunction with the upcoming Chinese New Year celebration.
In expressing relief as a consumer affected by the pandemic, the retired politician said the categories of controlled price items comprise chicken, chicken eggs, vegetables, seafood and pork.
“The minister clearly announced that the effectivity of the SHMMP will start Feb 8 to 16,” Ron echoed the good news, adding that KPDNHEP’s measure will surely ease the financial burden of the local buying public.
“This scheme can also indirectly prevent unreasonable price increase during the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO),” Ron repeated the message of Nanta.
Among the items listed in the SHMMP are live chicken, standard chicken, super chicken, grade A, B and C chicken eggs, imported round cabbage, Chinese potatoes, Chinese garlic, white pomfret, large white prawns, live pigs, pork (belly) and pork (meat and fat).
“Although this year’s Chinese New Year will be celebrated in moderation in accordance with the standard operating procedures set by the government, there is a demand for goods, and prices are expected to increase compared with normal days,” he said.
Furthermore, Ron said consumers in Sabah also noted prices of several canned goods, preserved food and fresh products have been increasing of late, making life more difficult to survive during this difficult time.
With SHMMP, he reiterated the scheme will greatly help consumers.
Meanwhile, Nanta said the pricing of goods is made in accordance with current market prices and takes into account change in prices, especially for imported goods affected by prices in their countries of origin, changes in exchange rates, and rising costs of farmers’ utilities.
The implementation of the scheme is subject to provisions stipulated under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering (Mechanism to Determine Unreasonable High Profit for Goods) Regulations 2018, he said.