Malaysiakini
May 9, 11
Beginning tomorrow, sugar will cost RM2.30 per kilo, up RM0.20, announced the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry today.
This is the fourth time sugar prices had increased since Jan 1 last year when it was priced at RM1.65 per kilo.
Prior to that, sugar prices were maintained at RM1.45 for a long period. This marks a 58.6 percent increase in less than one-and-a-half years.
According to the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry, by increasing the price of sugar by RM0.20 tomorrow, the government stands to make a saving of RM116.6 million.
Ministry: Still cheapest in the region
Meanwhile, ministry secretary-general Mohd Zain Mohd Dom said that the RM0.20 increase was decided by the National Economic Action Council today.
He said that the government would review sugar prices every six months, adding that this was the first time the sugar price was increased this year. Sugar prices were increased by RM0.20 on Dec 4 last year.
Mohd Zain stressed that sugar prices will still be cheaper than regional neighbours such as Indonesia (RM3.80), Singapore (RM3.61), Thailand (RM2.31) and Phillipines (RM4.50).
He said that despite the savings, the government will still fork out RM283.4 million in sugar subsidies.
Petrol prices recently increased
This follows an increase an increase in RON97 grade petrol to RM2.90 per litre – a record high – just four days ago.
RON95 grade petrol, which was introduced in September 2009, is the most commonly used. Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak promised RON95 would be maintained at RM1.90 per litre for now.
Last year, the government has announced that it plans to embark on a “subsidy rationalisation” exercise to reduce a burgeoning subsidy bill.
However, critics argue that such an exercise would only burden consumers and increase inflation while the government refuse to go on an austerity drive.
Critics said that the government has still failed to plug leakages in government-linked businesses and also failed to stamp out graft.
The saving of so called RM116.6m will supposedly be used for funding the infamous 1Malaysia e-mail ,another would b another white elephant project.
can we all stop taking sugar? it helps us to reduce weight and keeping a healthier body. raising the price of tobacco and cigarette has been a way to discourage people from smoking. thus it is a good way to ask people to stop consuming sugar by making its price much higher
Good, let them remove interest and increase cost of living for the rural folks ( their vote bank ). Let them know that this present goumen is bad and corrupt.
I pity the poor, but this irresponsible goumen needs to be changed.
We need to change the tenant at Putrajaya
Malaysia has to become much worse before it can become better. When Malaysia goes bankrupt in a few years time, the government will no longer be able to get money to subsidise daily essentials. This will drastically increase the cost of living to beyond what the rural folks can afford. The ringgit will come under attack and gets devalued, aggravating the situation. Famine will come. Only when the electorate are hungry will they realise that the UMNO corrupted government has failed them and they may then join the opposition to boot UMNO out. But it may be all too late.
Keep in mind, this is the price BEFORE gas prices is still surpressed and GST not implemented. Be prepared for RM2.50 for your kopi-o and teh-tarik..
They want everything but those hp6, NEP dependent and btn educated fools know nothing about running a business. Efficiency is not in their vocabulary. The profit they know is price increase to burden the people who had no choice but pay.
When Robert kuok ran the sugar business, price is low. When some ahmads umno took over, increase by over 50%. Ali umnos say high subsidy, but they have money for submarines, tallest building, jet fighters.
N!amah punya gobermen. by 2020, we will not be high income, but high in-debt.
Come 2020, high living cost ! sigh !
Our BN very good in doing rate comparison with the Asean country for those subsidise product.
How about our car price in this region? toll rate?
The next will be Petrol going up (subsidise item)and they will not tell you how much they earn from Petronas.
Where are they spending for the saving gain to reduce the subsidise items?
It is a chain reaction…starting from oil price increases and more to come.
UMNO B cannot juggle and hide the truths anymore as they have no money to keep fooling how honest they are.
It is auto pilot working for years of sleeping on the job by UMNO ministers…only good in talking nonsense and telling half truths.
There are lots of obese people with BMI’s of 30 and above. Umno has a simple cure for these fat souls. Increase the price of food especially rice, wheat, meat, everything edible. Then these fat souls would have to cut down on what they eat. Problem solved. As for those thin souls, they can die of starvation.