By Adrian Lim
KUCHING, May 23: Minister for Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi has criticised opposition lawmaker Chong Chieng Jen for politicising the Maximum Price Control Scheme during the festive season.
Nanta said the implementation of the Maximum Price Control Scheme during festive seasons is beneficial to consumers and businesses, rebutting Chong who was former Deputy Minister for Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs for being ignorant.
“I do not want to be influenced by the political tactics used by the opposition party.
“My duty is to protect consumers as well as looking after the interests of traders.
“Those traders do not earn high profit, but their profit margins are merely enough for them to survive and maintain their businesses,” he said during a press conference after visiting the Kubah Ria wet market to inspect traders on the adherence of the Maximum Price Control Scheme here today.
Nanta explained the fixing of the prices for essential goods during festive season was conducted based on the mechanism used by the officers from various government agencies.
Thus, he asserted that there was no element of politicking behind determining the price of essential goods adding that the Maximum Price Control Scheme was being implemented during festive seasons such as Hari Gawai and Pesta Kaamatan aside from Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
At the same time, Nanta who is Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) secretary general also brushed off opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s claim that the price of chicken during Hari Raya Aidilfitri under the Pakatan Harapan tenure was RM3 per kilogramme.
He stated that during that time, the ceiling price for chicken was RM7.50 per kilogramme.
Nanta, who is also Kapit MP, was taken aback by Anwar’s claim and reminded him that the inspection record for the price of chicken that was gazetted during PH’s era was RM7.50 per kilogramme.—DayakDaily
