New ceiling price for masks - RM1.50 per piece

CORONAVIRUS | Putrajaya has set the new ceiling price for three-ply surgical masks at RM1.50 per piece, down from RM2 previously.

This marked a 87.5 percent increase from the normal ceiling price of 80 sen per piece before the Covid-19 outbreak.

Putrajaya had previous increased the ceiling price by 150 percent due to a severe shortage to encourage production and imports.

Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said this was decided at the National Security Council's daily meeting today.

"Not enough is being produced domestically and a lot of it is being imported.

"We will review the price from periodically and might reduce the ceiling price if the cost comes down," he said.

There are only six producers of this product in the country and they are facing problems importing the necessary raw materials.

On March 22, Putrajaya has exempted taxes on imported masks.

Medical workers are in dire need of masks, which can also be used by the public when they are out and about to prevent transmission of some diseases. - Mkini