KPDN to launch price and supply monitoring system under 13MP
This initiative aims to enhance the government's ability to monitor price fluctuations and supply chain activities from producers to consumers.
Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, Minister of KPDN, stated that the system will provide comprehensive data to detect price manipulation by middlemen.
'With this supply and pricing data chain, the government can monitor more effectively and detect manipulation by middlemen who inflate prices,' he said.
The ministry will collaborate with other government bodies, including the Economy Ministry and the Finance Ministry, to implement the system.
Armizan made the announcement after officiating the MADANI Nationhood Seminar at the International Technology and Commercial Centre (ITCC).
The new system is expected to strengthen the food supply chain and pinpoint where price hikes occur within distribution channels.
Additionally, a study on price disparities in Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan has been launched this year, with separate Price Stability Committees established for each state.
Armizan revealed that Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) has already submitted a preliminary report for Sabah and Labuan, while Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) is conducting research for Sarawak.
'UMS has proposed five essential items that can be addressed in the short term to solve the issue,' he said. - Bernama
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
18 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
Wee calls for independent IRB
KUALA LUMPUR: A member of Parliament has called for reform of the Inland Revenue Board (IRB), proposing that it be established as an independent statutory body accountable to Parliament rather than remain under the control of the Finance Ministry. Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (PH–Ayer Hitam) said such reform is necessary to ensure a clear separation that prevents any influence from political interests or fiscal pressures faced by the government. "IRB must not be seen as a political tool and should follow the dictates of the executive, regardless of who is in power. "It should no longer operate directly under the Finance Minister, as it has done previously and continues to do now. "So, I propose that IRB be established as an independent statutory body under the oversight of Parliament," he told the Dewan Rakyat during the 13th Malaysia Plan debate here today. Wee cited examples of the Internal Revenue Service in the United States, which is monitored directly by Congress, and the UK's His Majesty's Revenue and Customs, which operates independently from ministerial instruction. He said these agencies have their own board of directors, and decisions related to audits or investigations cannot be directed by the government. Meanwhile, Wee said there has been a growing number of complaints from small and medium enterprises, who claimed that tax refunds have been delayed. "This creates the perception that the government is borrowing the people's money without interest," he said. He cited a recent case in which a taxpayer had applied for a RM13,000 refund, only to receive a response from IRB offering RM650, with the remaining amount to be paid over four years. "This shows why the power to determine tax interpretation, appeals and approvals for reliefs must be placed under an independent authority, one that is not subject to the influence of those currently in power," he said.
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
Rooting for mangroves as nature's climate heroes.
MORE mangroves and peat swamp forests will be legally protected during the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) period, from 2026 to 2030, as recently announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar. In the same tabling of the five-year national development plan, efforts to protect and restore mangroves, coral reefs and other wetlands were also highlighted as key nature-based solutions to climate and environmental solutions. To ensure effective mangrove restoration, Malaysia must first develop a comprehensive plan, beginning with the identification and assessment of disturbed and degraded mangroves. An initial assessment of all gazetted mangrove areas, some of which were designated over a century ago, should be carried out at the onset to prioritise further action. Are these mangrove forest reserves still forested? Have the forested areas expanded? Can they withstand sea level rise and other climatic and oceanic hazards? These are questions that must be answered. In addition, requests to encroach and exploit intact mangroves should be permanently disallowed. The enforcement of the laws must not be neglected. According to the document, new gazetting of mangrove forests — either as a forest reserve or a state park, marine reserve or a marine park is encouraged. Additionally, listing these areas under international conservation programmes is encouraged. All 'planting' programmes — or new mangrove planting initiatives either by the government agencies, corporate organisations, non-governmental organisations or communities — must be revamped and replaced with a proper understanding of habitat restoration, as envisioned in the 13MP. Restoration efforts should not end there. Monitoring and surveys must be conducted regularly, with data properly recorded. This is essential to justify the time, energy and financial investments made from planning through to execution. Assessments are crucial not only to verify and report gains or losses, but also to ensure integrity and credibility, especially if the project involves carbon credit or other financial mechanisms. Overall, this is an excellent move by the government in recognising the importance of protecting and conserving mangroves and other wetlands as nature-based solutions to address the environmental, climate and sustainability challenges facing the country. I hope that this vision is supported by sound scientific approaches and methodologies. DR A. ALDRIE AMIR Associate professor Institute for Environment and Development (Lestari) Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia; Coordinator Malaysian Mangrove Research Alliance and Network
Rakyat Post
an hour ago
- Rakyat Post
Rafizi Proposes Students To Complete High School By 16 So They Can Enter Workforce By 21
Subscribe to our FREE Former Minister of Economy Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli suggested that Malaysia should consider having students complete secondary school by the age of 16 to allow them to start working a job by age 21. According to a 'We must rethink the structure. If our children finish school at 16, by the time they complete tertiary education or skills training, they can start working at 21. 'That gives us a more productive population while buying is time to manage ageing-related challenges,' he said during the debate on the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13). Investing early in education Rafizi highlighted that structural reforms in education are being prioritised under RMK13, specifically through investments in early childhood education. He said universal preschool from the age of 5 is crucial due to the 'garbage in, garbage out' principle, which in the context of educations means that the quality of student learning is directly affected by the quality of the input they recieve. If children's development is not optimised between the ages of five and nine, they risk falling behind by Standard Four or Five, according to Rafizi. He added that countries with strong education systems focus their resources on early years instead of waiting until upper secondary or university. Universal preschool to ease financial burdens Rafizi argued that universal preschool — which is essentially publicly funded preschool education — would ease financial burdens of young families, as current costs are often prohibitive. 'This will ease the burden on young families who currently struggle with the high cost of preschool. By ensuring every school in the country can offer preschool, we'll be saving thousands of families over the coming years. 'This is about building long-term foundations. If we want reforms, education is the place to start — and it must begin early,' he said. Earlier, Prime Minsiter Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the government will make preschool education compulsory from the age of 5 to improve educational outcomes. Malaysia's retirement age may be raised As part of RMK13, Anwar recently announced Malaysia's mandatory retirement age of 60 will be reviewed with the possibility of being raised. According to a separate Malay Mail 'The mandatory retirement age will also be reviewed to align with the transition to an ageing nation,' he said. Malaysia's retirement age was last increased in 2012, from 55 to 60. Recent proposals seek to raise this further to 65 years old. Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, minister in the Prime Ministers Department (Law and Institutional Reform), previously suggested that such a move would better reflect current realities, such as increased life expectancy and better health outcomes. In spite of that, the proposal has faced opposition from groups such as the Malaysian Youth Council who have argued that the policy is not suitable for Malaysia's current labour market dynamics. Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.
