KUCHING, Dec 7: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Stakan branch chairman Sim Kiang Chiok said approved permit (AP) to import refine sugar should be abolished to help reduce cost of living of people.
“The sugar AP policy is an unfair practice to the rest of the people who still have to buy sugar and consumer products especially food and beverages at higher prices,” he said in a statement today.
Sim was commenting about the list of sugar AP holders in Sarawak which was released by the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP).
The list was disclosed by Bandar Kuching MP Kelvin Yii, who welcomed the ministry’s strong efforts in carrying out anti-monopoly actions by promoting greater competition in prices and also protecting the welfare of consumers.
This initiative, he added was effort to break the monopoly of sugar supply in Sarawak.
More importantly, Sim questioned if the 11 food and beverages manufacturers with the sugar APs have reduced the prices of their products so consumers can benefit since they were now purchasing sugar at a lower price.
“The high cost is still passed on to the people except the 11 sugar AP holders in Sarawak,” he said.
The policy, he criticised show that the Pakatan Harapan (PH) federal government is not caring with no intention to help reduce the cost of living of the people.
“It seems that the ‘Shared Prosperity’ aspiration is not practiced as preach by the federal government,” he added.
The 11 companies which have obtained the Sugar APs to import refine sugar were Sunshine Food Manufactured Co. Sdn Bhd, Dahfa Foods Manufacturing Sdn Bhd, Sundrop Fruit Juices Sdn Bhd, KNG LAK (E.M) Sdn Bhd, Alwi Food & Beverage Industries Sdn Bhd, Ta Yung Food Industries Sdn Bhd, Stampin Confectionery Sdn Bhd, Foodtake Industries Sdn Bhd, Kit Hin Company Sdn Bhd, F&N Sarawak and Teck Lee Seng Coffee Product.— DayakDaily
