KUALA LANGAT, 29 Jan 2009: The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry is still studying the impact of a sugar price increase on consumers, its Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad said.
The ministry has previously announced the possibility of an increase in the price of sugar following the hike in the commodity’s price in the global market.
“We will decide whether in the end we should continue to subsidise the price of sugar or otherwise,” he told reporters after opening a seminar on food packaging and processing in Teluk Datuk today.
In the meantime, he said, Malaysians should reduce sugar intake in their daily diet.
Malaysia imports 90% of its sugar supply.
At the event Shahrir also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Bumiputera Manufacturers and Service Industry Association of Malaysia and GCH Retail (M) Sdn Bhd, the operator of the Giant hypermarket.
The MoU was for the setting up of a small-and-medium enterprise (SME) corner at the Giant hypermart in Shah Alam.
On the setting up of the SME Corner, Shahrir said, it was in line with the ministry’s effort to promote local products.
Meanwhile Retail Director of GCH Retail, Ian Crudas said, the SME Corner would be set up as a pilot project at the Giant’s Shah Alam outlet within the next couple of weeks.
There would be no limit to the types of products that could be displayed there, he said.
The association’s deputy president Maj (Rtd) Abdul Rahman Ibrahim said the association would station its members to help promote products at the SME Corner. — Bernama
