ID :
17504
Sat, 08/30/2008 - 11:55
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/17504
The shortlink copeid
NO GUARANTEE FOOD PRICE WILL GO DOWN DESPITE DROP IN DUTY
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 29 (Bernama) -- The drop in the import duty on food items will not necessarily bring down the overall price of food, Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia Secretary-General Dr Ma'amor Osman said.
He said even though the move was to facilitate trade liberalisation and to
reduce tariff in stages as well as curtailing the hikes in the price of
essentials, it would not directly benefit the consumer.
"We are still unclear about the reduction in the import duty; it is
said
that it will reduce the burden borne by the consumer, but the reduction is not
for essential items but for other items such as sardin.
"What we want is a reduction in the import duty of basic food," he told
Bernama.
Dr Ma'amor however hailed the government's move to give priority to food
security.
In the 2009 Budget, the government allocated RM5.6 billion between 2008 and
2010 under the Food Supply Guarantee Policy, to be used among others to help
farmers cope with rising costs and boost food production.
-- BERNAMA
He said even though the move was to facilitate trade liberalisation and to
reduce tariff in stages as well as curtailing the hikes in the price of
essentials, it would not directly benefit the consumer.
"We are still unclear about the reduction in the import duty; it is
said
that it will reduce the burden borne by the consumer, but the reduction is not
for essential items but for other items such as sardin.
"What we want is a reduction in the import duty of basic food," he told
Bernama.
Dr Ma'amor however hailed the government's move to give priority to food
security.
In the 2009 Budget, the government allocated RM5.6 billion between 2008 and
2010 under the Food Supply Guarantee Policy, to be used among others to help
farmers cope with rising costs and boost food production.
-- BERNAMA
