KOTA KINABALU: DAP Sabah has called on the Barisan Nasiobnal (BN) Government to reconsider its decision to have a nationwide 1Malaysia chain stores.
Expressing concern over the project, DAP Sabah assistant secretary Junz Wong said, firstly he he was shocked to find out that the 1Malaysia stores can offer retailing prices at 40 per cent cheaper than the normal stores.
“The government owes the business community an explanation as to how these 1Malaysia stores can afford to offer such incredibly low prices,” he added.
Junz said he was not convinced that the sources of supply have given the proposed 1Malaysia stores such advantages.
“Would it be from the public fund in the form of subsidies that have given 1Malaysia stores this competitive advantage.” he asked.
“If that is the case, then 1Malaysia store concept is basically to ‘destroy’ others and allowing a favoured few to flourish using the rakyat money. This is very unethical,” added Junz who is also DAP Kota Kinabalu Youth chief.
He said the government of the day is supposed to protect and safeguard the interests of the people including the private business sector.
The government, with its hand in the 1Malaysia stores, has directly involved itself as a player in the market.
“BN Government (1Malaysia stores) will compete with the private sector and this is not healthy for the economy.
“Eventually, with the political advantage, 1Malaysia stores will monopolise the market causing imbalances in the economy and many of the big chain stores and smaller players will close down their businesses,” he reasoned.
So Junz urged the BN government to come clean with 1Malaysia stores.
“This is not helping the people and Malaysia’s economy in the long run,” Junz said.