Fauziah
LABUAN: Labuan Consumer Movement Council chairperson Hjh Fauziah Datuk Mohd Din yesterday said prices of goods and services were expected to go up next year due to the increase in electricity tariff.
She said that for the time being most of the prices of goods and services here were still the same.
“It is believed that prices of many goods and services here will go up by next year as the increased electricity tariff would add costs for the business operators or premises such as hotels, restaurants, textiles and others.
“The cost of living will also surge,” she said.
To face the situation, the council would hold a meeting on Saturday to discuss several issues where they would suggest some inputs for the government.
Fauziah said in their recent meeting in Kundasang, Ranau, one of the issues discussed was to educate consumers on their rights, steps to be taken to endure the rising cost of living, and consumers’ alertness to the rising prices.
“Consumers cannot remain quiet but instead use their rights in choosing products and services.
“The manipulation of prices is expected to occur by using the electricity tariff as a reason, even though their business operations do not use too much electricity such as the home businesses,” she said.
She also asked the Consumerism, Co-operative and Domestic Trade Ministry to organize more educational programmes to create awareness among the people.
“The level of awareness among our society is yet to reach a satisfactory level. A household expenditure course must also be done.
“Indeed, there are still many things we can do to help our society,” she said.
Meanwhile, she asked traders who intended to increase the prices of their goods and services to consider whether the increase is compatible with the quality of their goods and services.