KUCHING: In yet another "People First" initiative, the prices of essential goods in Sarawak, Sabah and Labuan will be standardised with those in the peninsula beginning on Friday under the 1Malaysia 1Price programme.

These goods include sugar, cooking oil and general purpose flour, said Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (pix).

"The standardisation will also encompass 304 products sold at the 1Malaysia Shops (KR1M), 89 products of the 1Malaysia Co-op Shops and 69 products of Fama (Federal Agriculture Marketing Authority).

"The standardisation has been made possible with the Government bearing the cost of shipping the goods from the peninsula to Sarawak, Sabah and Labuan and the cost of delivery to the rural and interior areas, to the tune of RM386mil," he told a news conference after launching the 1Malaysia 1Price programme and officiating the KR1M in Medan Hamidah, here Thursday.

Ismail Sabri said the 1Malaysia 1Price programme was another initiative of the Government to lower the cost of living in Sarawak, Sabah and Labuan.

Ismail Sabri said the standardisation of the prices gave traders no reason to raise the prices of essential goods because shipping cost, which was the primary cause of rising prices, was fully borne by the Government.

"We will undertake monitoring to make sure that the standardisation of the prices works.

“We also want consumers to lodge reports on irregularities to protect themselves and not take everything lying down," he said.

Replying to a question, he said errant traders would be blacklisted and removed from the distribution list.

He also said that the Government would proceed with the proposal to build 57 KR1M in Sarawak, Sabah and Labuan.

"Right now, Sarawak has four KR1M and three in Sabah.

“The remaining 54 are in the process of planning and development," he said. - Bernama

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