MINISTRY MAY STANDARDISE PRICE OF CONTROL ITEMS

PETALING JAYA, Feb 5 (Bernama) -- The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs
Ministry is studying a plan to standardise the price of all control items
nationwide.

Minister Shahrir Abdul Samad said the move was to ensure all low-income
groups do not continue to live a stressful life during economic uncertainties.

"Perhaps this year we will be able to standardise the price of essential
items controlled by the government," he told reporters after launching the Dutch
Lady price reduction campaign here Thursday.

The nationwide price standardisation would cover prices in urban and rural
areas as well as remote places especialy in Sabah and Sarawak, he said.

"For example in Kapit, Sarawak, the price of essential items is three times
more expensive compared to Kuching because of logistics costs and and we are
trying to standardise the price between urban and remote areas," Shahrir said.

The price of 48 Dutch Lady products comprising milk powder, milk and sweet
creamer would be reduced between five and 17 percent from the original price
during the two-month campaign from Thursday.
-- BERNAMA