GOVT MULLS OPTIONS FOR 4 COMPANIES
Cabinet committee set up to scrutinise practice among firms
THE fate of four companies that have been identified as having monopolistic businesses is now in the government’s hands. Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said a Cabinet committee had been set up to scrutinise business and service monopolies in the country.
The four companies are Padiberas Nasional Bhd, Puspakom Sdn Bhd, Pharmaniaga Bhd and MyEG Services Bhd.
Their monopolies involve rice
imports, vehicle inspection, medicines and immigration.
Saifuddin said the committee would look at various options, including dismantling or allowing the monopolies to continue, depending on a few factors.
“A recommendation on whether we will dismantle their monopolies will be made in the future. Now, we are still in the discussion stage. So far, we have identified four companies,” he said at MIDF Luncheon Talk, here, yesterday.
Saifuddin said the move was aimed at better controlling certain product prices.
He said the committee, led by Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, also involved Transport Minister Anthony Loke, Health Minister Dr Dzulkifli Ahmad and Agriculture and Agro-based Minister Datuk Salahuddin Ayub.
“This is one of the long-term efforts in tackling the rising cost of living. The short-term measures include targeted fuel subsidies and the food bank while the medium-term measure would be looking at the supply chain to implement price control,” he said.
Saifuddin said the government would continue to introduce counter-measures to help ease the rakyat’s burden, especially the Bottom 40 per cent household group.
More holistic policies would also be implemented to ensure improvement in the overall wellbeing of Malaysians, he said.
“The rakyat can expect both short- and long-term measures from the government in tackling this issues.”
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