Stocking up: People shopping at Econsave supermarket in Setapak. — Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: Prices of essential goods, especially subsidised items, will remain stable throughout the year, says Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub.
The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister said the ministry’s surveys indicated that chicken, eggs, RON95 and diesel prices remain the same.
“The subsidised packet cooking oil sold for RM2.50 is also not rising, and the price of bottled cooking oil is also not rising, and some sell it lower than the price set,” he said at a press conference yesterday after inspecting the prices of goods at Econsave supermarket in Setapak, here.
Meanwhile, Salahuddin confirmed that his ministry had not received any complaints about price increases, and he refuted allegations made in a news report recently regarding current price hikes.
However, he urged the public to promptly report any rise in the prices of essential goods at supermarkets or grocery stores to his ministry for immediate action.
He also did not rule out the possibility that there were people who deliberately play up the issue of price increases ahead of the upcoming state elections in the six states.
In response to media reports suggesting a potential 20% price increase in goods by the third quarter of this year with higher import prices and operating costs, Salahuddin said the ministry was aware of the situation and that he would continue to monitor the prices of goods.
He added that the government would regulate food prices to ensure businesses would sell at reasonable rates, particularly for essential items.
Salahuddin said the ministry found through Ops Manis that the price of sugar is still stable as of the recent Hari Raya Aidiladha, and the ministry has not received any complaints concerning sugar shortage.
