KUALA LUMPUR: Price cuts of 5%-20% on 72 types of products at farmers’ markets were announced today in a government programme for “Lower Prices at Farmers’ Markets”.Agriculture minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who has been involved in allegedly racist remarks about consumer price boycotts, said the cuts in prices would take place at 577 farmers’ markets across the country.
He said the ministry had not set a time limit for the programme. The lower prices are for farm produce, marine products, poultry and milk, food and drinks and health and herbal products.
“We want to help ease the people’s burden arising from prices of goods remaining high despite lower fuel costs,” he told reporters after launching the programme at the Taman Melawati Farmers’ Market here.
Ismail Sabri said others should follow in the footsteps of the farmers’ market traders. “They (traders) shouldn’t give any more excuses for not lowering prices. The ministry will place a hotline number at every stall for consumers to make a complaint if they don’t comply with instructions,” he said.
“Those who do not follow the instructions will no longer be allowed to trade at farmers’ market,” he added.
Ismail Sabri also said the ministry planned to open another 50 farmers’ markets this year, in line with the government’s target to open 1,000 farmers’ markets throughout the country by 2020. He said the ministry also planned to establish permanent farmers’ markets that operate daily.
After encountering a barrage of criticism about his suggestion to boycott businesses owned by Malaysian Chinese, the minister has said that he had aimed his comments at middlemen and profiterring businessmen, and was not aimed at any racial group.