Minister regrets 'spin' on 'God's will to control prices' remark

Umno supreme council member Hamzah Zainudin has expressed regret that certain media had "spun" his words on how prices of goods and services in Malaysia are up to "God's will".

According to The Star, Hamzah expressed regret that certain media and opposition leaders have tried to spin his explanation at the Umno General Assembly yesterday and claimed the government did not do anything to address the cost of living but leaves it to "God's will".

"In fact, the prices of goods that we have at the moment is one of the lowest in Asean.

"It shows that we control the prices nicely. We are actually very fair as we look after both sides, the businesses and the consumers," said Hamzah, who is also the domestic trade, cooperatives and consumerism minister.

In his speech at the Umno General Assembly yesterday, Hamzah said that the government's actions to not interfere with a free market was in line with a tradition established since the times of Prophet Muhammad SAW.

In making the point, Hamzah cited a hadith narrated by Abu Daud, in which the friends of the Prophet beseeched him to fix the price of goods.

Muhammad then responded: "Allah is the One who decrees prices, who takes and gives, and He is the provider. I hope that I will meet Allah with no one among you making any claim against me concerning issues of blood or wealth."

Scholars have argued that the hadith means that price of goods should be determined by market forces.

The Star today further quoted Hamzah as saying that the Prophet had said no to fixing the prices and wanted the people to not interfere in the free market.

"The Prophet didn't specifically talk about the free market, but that's what the Prophet was trying to explain to his people.

"When you talk about the free market, you must be fair to both sides," he said.

He also pointed out that the government has been fair to the rakyat introducing price controls for basic necessities like rice, sugar, flour, cooking oil and cooking gas.

But when it comes to fresh produce like vegetables and fish, Hamzah added that it would be subjected to laws of demand and supply.

For example, he said Malaysians consume a lot of fish, but the country does not have enough supply to cater to the demand, particularly during the monsoon season.

"When we have enough supply, the price will go down. I will work with the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry to make sure there's enough supply, then I will control on my side to ensure there is no profiteering," he stressed.- Mkini