Chong Chieng Jen: Sugar import monopoly is no more

Deputy Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Chong Chieng Jen. – Bernama

KUCHING (Bernama): The Pakatan Harapan government has finally broken the monopoly on sugar import in the country, says Chong Chieng Jen (pic).

The Deputy Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister said food and beverage (F&B) manufacturers in the country could now apply for sugar import permits.

He said one of the F&B manufacturers in Sarawak had successfully obtained a permit to import sugar, adding that it was part of the government's efforts to break monopolies in several sectors locally.

"The new federal government feels that monopoly is bad for the country's economy. As such, the ministry is looking very seriously at this business which is being monopolised by certain groups or individuals," he said at a news conference, here, on Thursday (Dec 27).

.Chong said the open policy would benefit F&B manufacturers in the country, especially in Sabah and Sarawak, as they could now import refined sugar direct at a cheaper price, compared to the previous policy where only two companies in west Malaysia were given permits to import raw sugar and refine it in the country.

He noted that previously, F&B manufacturers had to buy refined sugar at RM2.80 per kg from companies in west Malaysia but with the import permit, they could buy sugar from overseas for less than RM2 per kg.

"This is part of the Pakatan government's effort to control the escalating cost of living as one of the causes is the monopoly policy implemented by the previous government," he said.

Chong thus urged other F&B manufacturers to apply for the import permit and he hoped that lower manufacturing costs would reduce prices.

According to him, F&B manufacturers in Sabah and Sarawak were using between 100 and 200 tonnes of refined sugar per year, while Malaysia consumed a total of over 1.3 million tonnes per year.

He said the permit application could be approved within one month. – Bernama