KUALA LUMPUR, March 9 – The government will continue to take positive and effective intervention measures in managing the economy to ensure national prosperity, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. He said the government must administer the national economy accurately in terms of fiscal and monetary policies, besides implementing positive interventions.
“This is to ensure that the government does not allow total freedom or the ‘laissez faire’ philosophy so that whatever they want to do in the market, they follow our requirements,” he said when launching the Fair Price Shop Award 2016 organised by the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism (KPDNKK) at the SOGO Shopping Complex, here yesterday.
“The move was crucial so that the people were not exploited continuously by the market economy. We cannot allow this situation to exist eventhough we understand that the government cannot and should not do everything, but we must take intervention measures in a positive manner so that the market forces do not reach the level of the consumers and that the public are exploited,” Prime Minister said.
“The government was always concerned about the aspirations of the people and endeavoured to fulfill their requirements. That is why among the measures I am most keen on is to expand the network of the fair price shops where in my 2016 Budget recalibration speech, I suggested that the number of fair price shops be increased from 640 to 1,000,” he said.
He also disclosed that the KPDNKK succeeded in surpassing this target and recognised 1,238 fair price shops throughout the country this year, encompassing business premises such as retail shops, supermarkets, food shops and restaurants, eating stalls, stationery and book shops as well as clothing shops.
He said he propose that a new logo be made and placed outside the fair price shops so that the consumers understand that if the consumers enter this shop, the consumers can get quality goods at fair prices. In addition, the Prime Minister said the government would continue with the 1Malaysia people’s shop program, 1Malaysia textile shop and several other programs to assist the consumers in getting cheaper and better quality goods.
He said the price reduction program should also be continued and last year, 2,543 branches of supermarkets and mini markets throughout the country took part in the campaign. In efforts to assist the people in facing the high cost of living, he said the Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Ministry would also create the day market in Putrajaya by selling essential goods and raw materials at a much cheaper price than the market price.
“Have faith that the government is very determined in this matter but the government cannot do everything and we depend on the consumers. We want to have informed consumers who are smart and know that the power of determination lies in the hands of the consumers. Thus, if the consumers and the government work hand in hand, we can ensure that the shops in this country can provide goods of quality and at fair prices,” he said.
“Enforcement operations on the retailing networks would be continued so that no one would raise the prices of goods arbitrarily. As though the government is to be blamed for a price rise. When the fuel price goes up, the government is blamed. But when the fuel price drops, they don’t say that the government is good,” he added.
