KOTA KINABALU: The unity government is roping in experts from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) in a special committee to estabilish the prices of goods in Sabah and Sarawak.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof will chair the committee, with the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry serving as the secretariat.
Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Ali said the government was in the process of finalising the terms of reference for the committee.
"We are bringing in academicians from UMS and Unimas to chart strategies and mechanisms to address the pricing disparities affecting Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan," he told a press conference before launching the Sabah Street Show at the Sabah International Convention Centre here today.
Present was state Community Development and People's Wellbeing Minister Datuk James Ratib.
Armizan said there is a need for the unity government to take initiatives to address the long-standing issue of higher prices of goods in Sabah and Sarawak as compared to the Peninsular Malaysia,
"While I do not want to be overly ambitious that all issues can be solved, it is time to standardise prices, or at least stabilise them," he said, adding that the committee would explore short-, medium-, and long-term solutions.
Short-term solutions include subsidised flight tickets, known as FlySiswa, and an examination of existing port-to-port and community drumming programmes.
Meanwhile, Armizan encouraged local designers to capitalise on the government's policy which encourages civil servants to wear "batik" during official programmes.
"Our local designers in Sabah should take a more aggressive approach to showcase their creativity using local ethnic and modern motifs.
"By doing so, Sabah batik can not only be embraced by Sabahans, but compete with batik from Kelantan and Terengganu."
He also disclosed plans for the ministry to invite entrepreneurs and designers to participate in next year's month-long "Buy Local Products" programme in conjunction with National Day.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
from New Straits Times https://ift.tt/LmWFar1
0 Comments