Gov't to review new face mask ceiling price, agrees RM2 too high

CORONAVIRUS | Putrajaya has agreed to review the new ceiling price for three-ply face masks which was recently raised to RM2 per piece.

According to senior minister Ismail Sabri, the government agreed that the new ceiling price was too high compared to RM0.80 originally.

He said there was also no reason for the price hike as the government has agreed to waive import duties for the product.

"The prime minister has also voiced his disagreement over the really sharp increase in ceiling price.

"So tomorrow we will discuss this matter. The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry (KPDNHEP) will review it, and we want the price to go lower, and if possible, back to what had been set before.

"There was no reason to increase the ceiling price as the government has agreed to waive the import duties for face masks. We will decide on this tomorrow," he told reporters after chairing the ministers special meeting on Movement Control Order today in Putrajaya.

The meeting is held on a daily basis throughout the order enforcement period between March 18 and 31.

Two days ago, KPDNHEP announced that the ceiling price of the face mask was raised from 80 sen to RM2 per piece, besides permission to allow imports of the item to meet a shortage in the domestic market.

Its minister, Alexander Nanta Linggi had reportedly said that the move is meant to increase the supply of face masks in Malaysia.

However, the decision had since met with criticisms, including by former domestic trade minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail who questioned the decision.

Saifuddin said that when he was still holding Alexander's portfolio late last month, there were meetings with producers and none of them asked for a price increase. He said all producers had agreed to ramp up production.

Meanwhile, on the acquisition of face masks for the use of the country's frontliners, Ismail said the government has asked the National Disaster Management Agency to speed up the process to purchase 10 million pieces from China.

He said the country needs the supply as soon as possible, and cannot wait much longer.

"The masks are fully paid by the government, and priority would be given to frontliners who are engaged directly with Covid-19 operations such as the healthcare workers at hospital, police, the Armed Forces, and Rela.

"If there is a surplus, the masks would be distributed to areas that have been identified as high risks. And from there, if there are balance, the government would decide how the masks should be distributed," Ismail said. - Mkini