The cement industry players have agreed not to increase cement price following discussion with the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry, the minister, Saifuddin Nasution, said today.
The decision was arrived at during the discussion with cement industry players over the past two days, he said.
The manufacturers said they have to increase the cement price due to a hike in cost, he told a press conference at Putrajaya today.
However, Saifuddin said, the price hike in cement will impact the Pakatan Harapan's effort to build one million affordable housing units, given that cement is the main material in housing projects.
"While the government wants to be a good listener… they have to listen to us too," he said.
The manufacturers finally agreed not to continue with the price hike of cement, he said.
"They also agreed that they will apply to the ministry in case they want to increase the price of cement in future," he said, adding that cement is a controlled item.
Last Friday, EdgeProp.my quoted several unnamed construction industry players as saying that they have received a circular from a local cement company that it was increasing the price of cement and ready-mixed concrete by mid-June.
The report added that there were only a few players in the market and if one company were to hike prices, the others may follow suit.
The report said the proposed hike had yet to come into effect.
However, The Malaysian Insight reported that cement prices in Johor have already seen a 50 percent hike. - Mkini
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