SIBU: The National Consumer Action Council (MTPN) Sarawak chapter strongly supports the Prime Minister’s call to bolster the domestic economy as Malaysians continue to face rising living costs, says its president Lucas Lau.
He stressed that prioritising locally-produced goods is a practical step towards building a more sustainable and self-reliant economy.
He said the council understood the challenges currently faced by the people, including the growing financial strain on households.
He also asked if the country’s longstanding reliance on imported goods has weakened the domestic economy’s capacity to safeguard public welfare.
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"The reality we must accept is that the nation’s economic sovereignty cannot continue to depend entirely on external markets beyond our control.
"Therefore, the long-term solution lies in strengthening our internal capacity through continued support for local products, thereby easing the pressure of imported inflation on consumers," he said in a statement on Thursday (April 2).
Lau pointed out that strengthening the local economy requires a shared commitment between consumers and industry players.
He said local manufacturers, brands and distributors must not exploit consumers’ sense of patriotism by imposing unreasonable price increases.
"Public support must be met with fair pricing and appropriate quality, rather than the pursuit of short-term profit," he added.
In this regard, MTPN Sarawak urged consumers to view every purchase as a contribution to the nation’s economic resilience, he said.
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By choosing ethically-produced local goods, consumers not only support the survival of community businesses but also help build a more robust economic ecosystem, he noted.
"This is the right time to demonstrate that unity in economic action – grounded in the integrity of traders and consumer awareness – can serve as a strong foundation for the well-being of future generations," he said.
In a post on X on Tuesday (March 31), Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim urged Malaysians to strengthen the domestic economy by supporting local products and entrepreneurs, saying that internal strength is the main defence in facing the global energy crisis triggered by the conflict in the Middle East.
