Stationery retailers advised not to raise prices too high

KOTA KINABALU: Stationery retailers are advised not to raise the prices of their products to exorbitant level but to price them reasonably so as not to increase the financial burden of consumers and parents.

Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KKCCCI) president Datuk Michael Lui noted that stationery retailers are indeed feeling the pressure caused by the weak Ringgit, as some stationery products were imported, mainly from China.

Even if the products were manufactured in West Malaysia, the raw materials were imported from China or other countries, he said.

Hence, Lui said the weak Ringgit would increase the cost of doing business and exert pressure on the operators.

“If it is a 10 per cent increase (stationery), I think that is reasonable. Even the prices of imported food products have increased by 10 to 20 per cent,” he said.

Lui said this when asked to comment on the Stationery and Books Association of Sabah’s statement that the prices of stationery were expected to increase by more than 10 per cent if the economic downturn and weakening of Ringgit persisted.

Nonetheless, he hoped retailers and consumers would be considerate towards each other and allow for some give and take.

“Business is business. Stationery retailers hope to recoup their costs or else they would be operating at a loss.”

Lui added businesses should not raise their prices indiscriminately or they would lose out to competitors.

“We (consumers and businesses) should overcome this time of difficulty together and be considerate towards each other. There should be some give and take,” he said.

Lui