SHAH ALAM, 4 Jan: The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) is disappointed that the reduction of fuel prices has not positively impacted the reduction of the prices of goods, which is now still burdening the people.
Its Vice President, Mohd Yusof Abdul Rahman, said that the situation saw retailers and traders seemingly taking advantage when the increase of fuel price happened.
Mohd Yusof said that if previously the increase of fuel prices was the excuse to raise the prices of goods, than why was there no decrease happening even though it (reduction of fuel prices) came into effect on January 1.
He said that increase in prices of goods was due to the increase of fuel price because it involved the cost of transportation and this was already known by the public, who are increasingly facing the rising cost of living.
“When the price of fuel goes down, the price of goods should also go down because the cost of production and transportation has gone down.
“However, we see no signs informing that shops are lowering prices. This shows that there is no connection between the reduction of fuel prices and the price of goods.
“It is as though in our country, shopkeepers always want to take opportunity and making it an excuse to raise prices,” he said when contacted by Selangor Kini.
He explained that the absence of specific legislation used in this issue has resulted in retailers and traders being reluctant to reduce the price of goods.
At the same time, Fomca informed that they have not received any complaints regarding petrol stations that have refused to reduce the price of fuel at the new rate.
Effective January 1, the federal government announced that the retail price for RON95 has been set at RM1.91 per litre, RON97 at RM2.11 per litre and RM1.93 per litre for diesel.
NS
