21/05/2020 05:36 PM
KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 -- The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (FOMCA) calls on the government to quickly review the price control list for essential food items during this year’s festive seasons and to add a more comprehensive list of items.
In a statement today, its president, Datuk Dr Marimuthu Nadason said the price control list released by the government is limited to only certain items relating to chicken, eggs, beef, coconut milk and shaven coconut, which is not enough especially with an important festive season such as Hari Raya coming up.
“Fish has not been included; it is one of the items that the price has gone up substantially during the Movement Control Order (MCO).
“Vegetables such as cabbages, potatoes, onions, garlic, chilies too are essential food items that have not been included, which the prices of some of these items have sharply risen.
“A way of helping consumers is for the government to have an extensive price control list so that many of the essential items would be affordable and sellers will not take advantage of the festive season to hike prices to make excessive profits,” he said.
He said the government should help consumers by keeping the price of essential foods low so that it will be affordable for ordinary consumers during this festive season, especially in a time when many consumers are facing severe financial pressure.
Apart from that, FOMCA also called on policymakers to go to the ground constantly to understand the people’s concerns and suffering, especially among the B40 and M40 households, which will help them in making better decisions.
Source-- BERNAMA