Face mask price – traders urged to be honest
The price of three-ply face masks has been lowered to RM1 each with the government envisaging further price reductions in future. But consumer groups pointed out that many shops are already selling the product at below RM1, and that dishonest traders may seize the chance to raise the price.
JOHOR BARU: Setting the ceiling price for face masks at RM1 may result in unscrupulous sellers hiking up prices again, said the Johor Consumers Movement Association.
With the price of face masks already tagged at below RM1 in many pharmacies and shops, the association’s chairman Md Salleh Sadijo said the new ceiling price would pave the way for unscrupulous traders to take the opportunity to raise the prices again.
“In these hard times where many have lost jobs, to fork out RM1 for a face mask will add to their already heavy burden, as the government has made it mandatory to wear face masks in public,” he said yesterday.
Salleh said the rakyat, as consumers, were on the losing end as daily expenses keep piling up, especially for those with children in school.
He said the government should have set a lower ceiling price or even make face masks available for free to the lower income group.
“Maybe those earning above RM3,000 might not feel the pinch as much but for the lower income group, it can be a heavy burden if we look at the fact that the masks need to be changed daily.
“I think that it is not too much for us to ask the government to provide free face masks for the low income families,” he said.
Checks at pharmacies in Johor Baru found that the price for a box of 50 face masks range from RM24.90 to RM49.90, which is already below RM1 per piece.
A pharmacist who only wanted to be known as Lim, said the price of face masks differed depending on the grade and quality.
A 50-piece box of children’s face masks was sold at RM34.90 while adult face masks do not cost more than RM49.90 per box of 50 at her outlet, she said, adding that the prices were set by her head office.
“I would usually ask the customer’s budget and usage before recommending the type of face mask that suited them,” she added.
Another pharmacist Desmond Mark here, said face masks were also priced at RM49.90 per box at his outlet.
He said he had run out of stock and was expecting delivery later this week.
He added that while the price of face masks were lower now than during the height of the pandemic, he noticed the younger crowd preferred reusable cotton face masks.
“The fancy fabric masks, which sold for RM11.90 each, were popular among the younger customers who sought comfort and style on top of being safe,” said Mark.