30 October 2007

KLANG: Local traders cannot be blamed for the current increase in the price of enriched wheat flour, used in making noodles, bread, cakes and biscuits. 

“Enriched wheat flour is imported from other countries. Its retail price, therefore, is fixed according to global market trends,” said Deputy Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk S. Veerasingam.

The price went up from between RM1.70 and RM1.80 per kg to between RM2 and RM2.10 per kg on Sept 15.  

On Oct 16, the price went up further to between RM2.60 and RM2.70 per kg. 

Asked if the Government would step in to stabilise the price, Veerasingam said it was not viable to do so. 

“The Government cannot subsidise everything, as the money is needed for development programmes,” he said. 

However, he assured consumers that the ministry’s enforcement officers would be regularly sent out to the field to ensure that traders do not arbitrarily hike the price. 

“We will ensure that no one gets away with profiteering,” he told reporters after presenting groceries to several hundred people at Dewan Hamzah here yesterday. 

Klang MP Datin Paduka Dr Tan Yee Kew and Klang MIC division chief Alex Thiagarasan were present at the event, which was organised by the division.