Latest news with #PriceControl
Malay Mail
19-07-2025
- Health
- Malay Mail
Johor DAP's Dr Boo calls on Cabinet to seek AG's review on drug price order amid legal concerns
JOHOR BARU, July 19 — Johor DAP activist Dr Boo Cheng Hau called on the Cabinet to refer the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering (Price Marking for Drugs) Order 2025 to the Attorney-General's Chambers for a legal review. He claimed that the order, which requires private hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies to display drug prices, may be outside the jurisdiction of the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN). 'The power to regulate medical services and medications, the existing relevant medical laws must be amended when necessary to empower the Health Ministry to do so, as they have the necessary expertise and jurisdiction. 'Protecting patients' rights is the responsibility of the medical fraternity, and the pharmaceutical industry has always had certain rules for drug prices and each pharmaceutical manufacturer will have a recommended selling price for each drug. 'Ultimately, patients will benefit from a more transparent system, but the powers and authority to regulate drug prices naturally falls within the scope of the Health Ministry's jurisdiction and authority,' said Dr Boo in a statement today. He was responding to the announcement by Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Amirzan Mohd Ali in May that his ministry has formulated and gazetted the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering (Price Making for Drugs) Order 2025 in accordance with Section 10 of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011, requiring private hospitals, clinics and pharmacies to display drug prices. Dr Boo, who is also a medical practitioner, called on the Cabinet to improve the coordination between various ministers and governmental departments. 'No cabinet minister should interpret the laws unilaterally, but must submit the relevant laws to the Attorney General's Office for further review to avoid mishaps,' he said. On May 1, the Federation of Private Medical Practitioners' Associations Malaysia (FPMPAM) alleged that KPDN enforcement officers visited clinics and threatened to issue summonses for failing to display medicine prices. The mandatory drug price display ruling came into force on May 1. However, the Health Ministry later announced that no summons or punitive action will be taken just yet, pending a three-month grace period to focus on public education and advocacy.
Malay Mail
30-06-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Armizan: Domestic Trade Ministry outlines three-pronged strategy as expanded SST enforcement begins tomorrow
KOTA KINABALU, June 30 — The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) will use three approaches to ensure the smooth running of Op Kesan 4.0, in conjunction with the implementation of the Sales Tax review and expanded scope of the Service Tax tomorrow. Its minister, Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said it includes implementing the data collection of prices and service charge by ministry price monitoring officers. 'The data will from the basis of comparing prices and service charges before and after the Sales and Service Tax (SST) rate review,' he said at a media conference after an engagement session with a Sabah small and micro traders here today. He said the standard operating procedure for managing complaints on charges, prices and supplies was a good approach in ensuring the operation achieved its objectives, adding that the ministry would take stern action against traders who raised prices indiscriminately, including fines of up to RM100,000 or three years' jail or both for individuals and fines of RM500,000 for companies. On Op Kesan 4.0, he said that it was under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 and its focus was to ensure traders do not take advantage by raising prices of items and services unreasonably, and in violation of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011. The enforcement scope includes goods and services involved in the SST rate review, including monitoring of goods not involved in the review, such as basic necessities, he added. — Bernama
Malay Mail
30-06-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Armizan: Domestic Trade Ministry outlines three-pronged strategy as expanded SST enforcement begins on July 1
KOTA KINABALU, June 30 — The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) will use three approaches to ensure the smooth running of Op Kesan 4.0, in conjunction with the implementation of the Sales Tax review and expanded scope of the Service Tax tomorrow. Its minister, Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said it includes implementing the data collection of prices and service charge by ministry price monitoring officers. 'The data will from the basis of comparing prices and service charges before and after the Sales and Service Tax (SST) rate review,' he said at a media conference after an engagement session with a Sabah small and micro traders here today. He said the standard operating procedure for managing complaints on charges, prices and supplies was a good approach in ensuring the operation achieved its objectives, adding that the ministry would take stern action against traders who raised prices indiscriminately, including fines of up to RM100,000 or three years' jail or both for individuals and fines of RM500,000 for companies. On Op Kesan 4.0, he said that it was under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 and its focus was to ensure traders do not take advantage by raising prices of items and services unreasonably, and in violation of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011. The enforcement scope includes goods and services involved in the SST rate review, including monitoring of goods not involved in the review, such as basic necessities, he added. — Bernama
Belfast Telegraph
27-06-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
£100 charge to home rates bills ‘could tackle NI's wastewater crisis'
The wider industry is warning that a £2bn funding gap for NI Water over the next eight years could see more than 6,000 homes unable to be built in the next three, while the worst case scenario could see a shortfall of up to 20,000 houses. 'Northern Ireland is no longer simply under strain – it is facing a full-blown crisis,' a fresh study says. The study has carried out by Grant Thornton and Turley Economics, on behalf of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NI Chamber), Construction Employers Federation (CEF) and Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations (NIFHA). 'At the heart of this crisis lies a funding model which is not sustainable,' it says. 'NI Water is reliant on continuing subsidies from the Department for Infrastructure (DfI), without a significant stream of revenue against which it can address long-term infrastructure investment and leaving its finances subject to the limitations and uncertainties of the NI Executive's budget. 'Now, as the critical infrastructure investment needed approaches £3.9bn, we face a stark choice: continue to defer the inevitable or confront it with clarity and a commitment to long-term reform. 'The evidence is clear, continuing to rely solely on public subsidy is not viable, unless the UK Government steps in and injects significant new capital. We know this is highly unlikely without joint political pressure from all NI Executive parties. 'The scenarios modelled in this paper show that practical, fair, and less financially challenging solutions are possible – but all involve political choices. Whether through borrowing, rates-based levies, developer contributions, or innovative financing models, addressing the investment backlog is now unavoidable.' Among the suggestions for revenue raising are the idea of developer contributions – something which the Infrastructure Minister is considering as part of a recent consultation. However, the study says 'they are not expected to generate the billions of pounds required and could result in two-tier housing delivery'. It's also suggesting different models linking NI Water to our domestic rates bills. Northern Ireland is the only region in the UK in which households don't pay directly for their water. 'To enable NI Water to access private capital markets on favourable terms, a 'Hypothecated Infrastructure Levy' could be introduced that retains public ownership of NI Water, supports long-term strategic investment and minimises pressure on the NI Executive's budget,' it says. Over the next few years it says adding around £95 to an annual domestic rates bill could largely help address the £2bn deficit. 'Our most conservative estimate assumes a continuation of the current downward trend (around 12% reduction year-on-year) in new home completions and a continued failure to bring forward any of the necessary wastewater infrastructure projects within the next three years (the current Price Control period). This will result in a dramatic 4% reduction in the overall construction sector workforce in Northern Ireland (currently circa 60,500) by the end of 2027.' That could lead to 'rising rental costs' and 'housing stress', resulting in a loss of 1,690 jobs in the wider construction sector. 'Northern Ireland is no longer simply under strain – it is facing a full-blown crisis,' the report says. 'A crisis, by definition, is a critical juncture marked by an acute imbalance between demands and resources, where failure to act leads to widespread negative consequences. This precisely describes the situation NI finds itself in today. As with so many crises, the true cost of inaction will only be clear once it is too late.' Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins launched a public consultation on Developer Contributions for Wastewater Infrastructure, earlier this year. It proposes two options – voluntary developer contributions, to offset the costs of upgrading or replacing the wastewater infrastructure preventing new connections in the specific areas where they are unable to build, or compulsory contributions. But in an interview with Ulster Business, Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins are not on the cards, while she isn't sold on mutualisation as an option for NI Water. '[The issues have been there] as a result of years and years of chronic under investment,' she said. 'For me, there's not enough investment. 'The only options that have been presented to me, other than what I'm doing, are options that will lead to water charging… and that's not something that I am willing into do.' The latest report says while 'much of the immediate impact is now unavoidable… whatever harm can be ameliorated in the short term must be, and solutions agreed upon matched by commitments that provide certainty for the future'. 'The prize of addressing the problem, is an additional net £2.5bn Gross Value Added (GVA) added to our economy, stimulated by housing led growth and enabled by the delivery of our required wastewater infrastructure.'
Malay Mail
23-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Ministry: Festive price caps for Kaamatan, Gawai extended to seven days, more goods added including coconut and onions
INANAM, May 23 — The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) will implement the Festive Season Maximum Price Control Scheme (SHMMP) in conjunction with the Kaamatan and Gawai Festivals for seven days. Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said the Kaamatan Festival SHMMP will begin on May 27 and continue until June 2, whereas the Gawai Festival SHMMP will be from May 29 to June 4. 'A total of 10 items are listed under the Kaamatan SHMMP compared to eight last year with the addition of imported large yellow and red onions. 'For the SHMMP in conjunction with the Gawai Festival, 11 items have been listed, compared to eight last year, with the addition of three items—whole coconuts, grated coconut, and coconut milk,' he told reporters at Pisompuruan Hall in Kampung Kobuni here today. Armizan said the SHMMP will be implemented three days before, a day during, and three days after the festivals. He said the duration of the price control initiative considers the interests of consumers and the business community, allowing consumers to purchase essential items at reasonable prices while ensuring that traders are not burdened by a lengthy enforcement period. Items listed under the price control scheme during the Kaamatan Festival include live pigs (with maximum prices set only at farms), pork meat, fat, and belly. Other items are buffalo meat imported from India (except the tenderloin), chicken wings, curly dried chillies, small red onions (India) and garlic (China). The price control list for Gawai celebrations includes live pigs, pork (meat, fat, and belly), live old chickens, chicken wings, and round cabbage imported from Indonesia and China, except Beijing cabbage, garlic from China, and dried curly chillies. — Bernama
