New method to control goods prices in Sebatik, Kalabakan

0

TAWAU: The Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism (MDTCC) has introduced a new method to control prices of goods on Sebatik Island and in the Kalabakan parliamentary constituency.

Its Tawau branch officer-in-chief, Mohd Fikri Lai Abdullah, said the control method would be implemented immediately where retailers in Sebatik are not allowed to take subsidized supplies or goods from major wholesalers in Tawau but instead given a quota based on the needs of residents and households in the respective locations.

Fikri advised retailers in Sebatik to take their supplies from the four appointed transporters – Sunyi Maju, Sri Diamond, Alif Utama Corporation and Pemborong Bumiputera Jainudin.

He also ordered the transporters to place their supplies or goods at Batu-Batu here to ease the administration process before the supplies were transported to Sebatik.

Fikri said action would be taken against those violating the regulation under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 and Control of Supply Regulation 1974.

He told the media this after conducting a briefing on subsidized goods distribution to the rural areas in Sebatik and Kalabakan at the Tawau Municipal Council (TMC) yesterday.

“The objective of the new control method is to prevent any oversupply or shortage of goods, or even smuggling, besides creating a systematic control system towards subsidized goods.

“I believe it is the best control method introduced for Tawau, Sebatik and Kalabakan and I hope this method could work successfully and achieve its stated target,” Fikri said.

According to him, his ministry would continue to monitor the progress of this method as well as ensure that the quota for subsidised goods for Sebatik was sufficient.

Fikri therefore hoped all parties would cooperate and work together in managing the subsidised goods and hoped such efforts could stabilise the supply and prices of goods so that every Malaysian could enjoy subsidised goods from the government.

It was learnt that Sebatik island has 1,200 households with about 8,260 residents and 91 retailers.