ID :
25239
Sat, 10/18/2008 - 10:43
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/25239
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MEETING NEXT MONTH TO DISCUSS PRICES OF GOODS IN THE WAKE OF OIL PRICE DROP
PUTRAJAYA, Oct 18 (Bernama) -- The government is to meet consumers associations, traders, manufacturers and distributors early next month to redefine the term "essential items" and find ways for prices of goods to be lowered in tandem with the drop in the world oil price.
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Shahrir Abdul Samad said
Friday
the meeting would consider whether more goods had to be added to the list
of essential items or the current list was sufficient.
The government had, under the Control of Supplies Act 1961, categorised 11
goods as controlled essential items, they being rice (with five per cent and 15
per cent broken grains), sugar, flour, bread, milk, salt, chicken, cooking oil,
petrol, diesel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
Shahrir said the meeting would also consider the capability of traders to
reduce the prices of non-controlled items following a drop in the prices of oil,
palm oil, corn and wheat in the world market.
"I talk about an apple, others talk about an orange," he said in reference
to the definition of essential items from the viewpoint of the government and
the public.
The public regards essential items as all types of goods required in
daily
life but for the government they are only the 11 goods, the list of which is
extended during festive periods.
Shahrir said that when the prices of the inputs to produce an item drop,
the price of the item should also drop, adding that the prices of non-controlled
items could be reduced owing to this factor.
He also said that next month's meeting would also consider whether it was
necessary for the government to abolish the RM20.4 million subsidy enjoyed by
flour manufacturers following the drop in the price of flour from US$451 per
tonne in December 2007 to US$204 now.
Asked why the prices of goods did not come down when the price of fuel had
been reduced thrice in the country, Shahrir said it would take a little time for
the fuel price drop to have an impact on the prices of goods.
-- BERNAMA
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Shahrir Abdul Samad said
Friday
the meeting would consider whether more goods had to be added to the list
of essential items or the current list was sufficient.
The government had, under the Control of Supplies Act 1961, categorised 11
goods as controlled essential items, they being rice (with five per cent and 15
per cent broken grains), sugar, flour, bread, milk, salt, chicken, cooking oil,
petrol, diesel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
Shahrir said the meeting would also consider the capability of traders to
reduce the prices of non-controlled items following a drop in the prices of oil,
palm oil, corn and wheat in the world market.
"I talk about an apple, others talk about an orange," he said in reference
to the definition of essential items from the viewpoint of the government and
the public.
The public regards essential items as all types of goods required in
daily
life but for the government they are only the 11 goods, the list of which is
extended during festive periods.
Shahrir said that when the prices of the inputs to produce an item drop,
the price of the item should also drop, adding that the prices of non-controlled
items could be reduced owing to this factor.
He also said that next month's meeting would also consider whether it was
necessary for the government to abolish the RM20.4 million subsidy enjoyed by
flour manufacturers following the drop in the price of flour from US$451 per
tonne in December 2007 to US$204 now.
Asked why the prices of goods did not come down when the price of fuel had
been reduced thrice in the country, Shahrir said it would take a little time for
the fuel price drop to have an impact on the prices of goods.
-- BERNAMA
