PETALING JAYA: The government will develop a new price and supply repository system for essential goods, says Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.
The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister said that the system would supply the public with information on current supply and market prices of essentials throughout the supply chain.
“The system will also be used to address profiteering and price manipulation activities, including those involving middlemen,” he said in a statement on Sunday (August 3).
Armizan added that the system’s development would involve various ministries and industry players.
He said that the system was part of the government’s efforts to enhance the stability of the food supply chain over the next five years under the new 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP).
“This effort will include improvements to infrastructure, the retail sector, price transparency and regulatory enforcement.
“By enhanced collaboration with the private sector, we hope to increase the availability of marketing infrastructure, including collection, processing, packaging, and distribution centres, as well as logistics facilities and digital services.
“Small- and medium-scale retailers will also be empowered to increase their participation in newly introduced agrofood marketing hubs,” Armizan said in the statement.
