By Adrian Lim
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 6: The price standardisation programme implemented by the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry (KPDNHEP) has benefited the people in the rural areas for instance in Belaga.
Its Minister Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi said the Belaga people have been able to purchase essential goods at lower prices as a result of the price standardisation programme.
“This year, the government has appointed 163 transporters that are companies which are responsible to purchase supplies from suppliers before delivering and selling them to point of sales (POS) at the respective areas for distribution
“There are seven basic essential items which are being transported through this programme.
“They are rice, with sugar, 1kg or 1 litre cooking oil, wheat flour, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), RON95 petrol and diesel.
“For instance, before the price standardisation programme was implemented, the people of Belaga needed to acquire one cylinder of LPG at RM55.
“With the programme, Belaga folks will be getting a cylinder of LPG at a controlled price at just RM26.60,” he said when replying to Hulu Rajang MP Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong at the Parliament today.
Nanta said Belaga is one of the areas located within the Hulu Rajang constituency.
Nanta added that based on surveys from his ministry, many rural folks have agreed that the programme has assisted them to ease their financial burden.
He said the rural people also hoped that the programme would be continued.
Meanwhile, Ugak has earlier asked Nanta as to how the price standardisation programme has assisted the people in the rural areas.
In replying to a supplementary question from Ugak, Nanta said the price standardisation programme has covered a total of 451 areas in Sarawak.
He added that this year, the federal government has allocated RM150 million for the price standardisation programme for the rural areas in Sarawak, Sabah, Kedah and Kelantan.
Specifically, Nanta pointed out that the Hulu Rajang constituency has been allocated RM19.95 million while Sarawak has been allocated RM83.2 million for the programme.
He asserted that KPDNHEP provides priority for the implementation of the programme to areas and constituencies which are difficult to be accessed such as those located upstream of rivers and areas that lack infrastructure facilities.
Nanta added that his ministry is looking into expanding the programme to other remote areas in Sarawak based on the allocation provided by the federal government.—DayakDaily
