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Govt Satisfied With Measures To Curb Price Hike |
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Written by Administrator
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Wednesday, 20 June 2007 |
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PUTRAJAYA, June 19 (Bernama) -- The government, satisfied with efforts made to check price hike of goods and services, is confident of achieving a lower inflation rate of 2.5 per cent this year, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Tuesday.
"I am satisfied. You cannot expect no increase whatsoever although we are trying to achieve that...but what is encouraging is that the trend is definitely a significant downward trend.
"Through affirmative enforcement measures, I find the price increase trend of consumer goods is much lower than last year. Based on the government's projection,
Govt Satisfied With Measures To Curb Price Hike - Najib
PUTRAJAYA, June 19 (Bernama) -- The government, satisfied with efforts made to check price hike of goods and services, is confident of achieving a lower inflation rate of 2.5 per cent this year, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Tuesday.
"I am satisfied. You cannot expect no increase whatsoever although we are trying to achieve that...but what is encouraging is that the trend is definitely a significant downward trend.
"Through affirmative enforcement measures, I find the price increase trend of consumer goods is much lower than last year. Based on the government's projection, the inflation rate this year can be maintained at around 2.5 per cent which is lower than last year," the deputy prime minister told reporters after chairing the meeting of the cabinet committee on essential goods.
Najib said the government was serious in seeing prices of goods and services were stable besides ensuring goods needed for the country's development were sold at reasonable prices and the supply was adequate.
He also said the government through the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry had set up a special unit comprising officials from other ministries and agencies to make sure enforcement operations were better coordinated.
He said the ministry had also launched "Ops Gaji" under which concerted enforcement raids have been and are being carried out.
The raids had big impacts, particularly on traders who took advantage of the government's announcement of a salary rise for civil servants, to raise prices of goods and services to their whims, he said.
A total of 99,312 business premises were checked under Ops Gaji between May 21 and yesterday, he said, adding that 125 complaints were received on price increase, action was taken against 227 traders under the Price Control Act and three traders under Control of Supply Act during the period.
Goods worth RM214,875 were sealed and compounds totalling RM162,530 were issued during the operation.
"In our drive to keep prices of goods under control, we working closely with with six hypermarkets which are cooperating with the government by selling goods at reduced prices," said the deputy prime minister.
The hypermarkets are Carrefour, Giant, Tesco, Jusco, Mydin and The Store.
Najib also said the cabinet committee, in today's meeting, ordered the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry to negotiate with certain companies to set up distribution centres for retailers in small towns and rural areas.
"This is to protect the interests of retailers in rural areas and to ensure they receive supply of goods at a lower price, thus benefiting consumers," he added.
Source : BERNAMA |
