Latest news with #essentialgoods
Free Malaysia Today
29-07-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
No monopolies in supply of essential goods, says minister
Domestic trade and cost of living minister Armizan Mohd Ali said MyCC has not received any complaints about companies abusing their dominant position in the distribution of essential goods such as sugar, eggs and cooking oil. PETALING JAYA : The Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC) has not found any evidence of any one entity monopolising the supply chain for essential goods. Domestic trade and cost of living minister Armizan Mohd Ali said MyCC has also not received any complaints about companies abusing their dominant position in the distribution of essential goods such as sugar, eggs and cooking oil. 'Continuous monitoring by MyCC has also found no existence of any single entity monopolising the entire supply chain for any of these goods,' he said in a written parliamentary reply. He was responding to a question from Ahmad Tarmizi Sulaiman (PN-Sik) regarding action taken against monopolies in the distribution chain of essential goods. Tarmizi claimed such monopolies have resulted in high prices of essential goods despite government subsidies. Armizan said MyCC welcomed complaints or information from the public on any party suspected of abusing its dominant position, especially in the sugar, egg, and cooking oil markets.
Arab News
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Iranians buying supplies in Iraq tell of fear, shortages back home
PENJWEN, Iraq: Near the once-bustling Iraqi border crossing of Bashmakh, Iranian driver Fatah stocked up on rice, sugar and tea, staples that have become increasingly hard to get back home. Fatah — who like others in this story is being identified by a pseudonym — was among dozens of truck drivers waiting impatiently to cross back into Iran from Iraq's northern Kurdistan region, hauling not only their commercial cargo, but also essential goods for their families after days of Israeli attacks. AFP spoke with at least 30 Iranians near the Bashmakh crossing. They all refused to be interviewed on camera, and the few who agreed to describe life back home asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals back in Iran. 'There are shortages of rice, bread, sugar and tea,' Fatah said Tuesday. Finding fuel has also become a major problem, with long queues of cars waiting hours in front of gas stations hoping the fuel did not run out, the 40-year-old driver added. A long journey awaits Fatah, who must deliver his load of asphalt to the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas about 1,700 kilometers (1,060 miles) away, before turning around and driving almost the same distance back to the western city of Marivan, where his family lives and which has so far been spared bombardment. But 'my route passes near the Natanz nuclear facility,' Fatah said, referring to one of Iran's underground uranium enrichment sites that Israel has struck several times since the start of its campaign last week. Surprise attack Israel launched a devastating surprise attack on Friday targeting Iran's military and nuclear sites and killing top commanders and scientists. Israel says its attacks are aimed at preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, an ambition Tehran denies. At least 224 people, including women and children, have been killed in the Israeli strikes, according to official figures. The assault has prompted retaliatory barrages of missiles from Iran that have killed at least 24 people in Israel, according to the prime minister's office. Aram, 28, keeps calling his wife, fearing for his family's safety after they had to flee their home when a strike hit a military site nearby in the city of Sanandaj. 'My family is safe, but they had to move in with relatives in a village,' Aram said. His wife told him that many families who lived near military sites in the area had been similarly displaced. The father of two said the shortages back home were mostly due to panic-stricken Iranians who rushed to markets to stockpile basic supplies. Fear of shortages mounts Back in Iran, car dealer Shwan recalled how Israeli jets struck several military sites near his city of Bukan in the west. 'People are shocked and distraught, they don't know what they should do,' the 35-year-old told AFP via a messaging app from inside Iran. 'We have a major problem with bread shortages,' he said. People were queuing at bakeries for hours to get loaves of bread, sometimes to no avail, Shwan said. 'Sometimes four members of one family go around bakeries looking for bread,' he added. 'It is also difficult to find rice or oil,' and many civil servants have not received their salaries yet, he said. Avin, a 38-year-old seamstress, told AFP via a messaging app that the war 'has spread fear among residents,' even though the bombs have not touched her town of Saqqez in northwest Iran. 'Some families with children left to villages outside the city,' she said. Like others, she fears more shortages to come. 'Most of the provisions come from Tehran,' which has seen a massive exodus and is also grappling with scarcity. 'Because of this, the market in our city came to a standstill.'
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Why I'd Include These 3 Essential Canadian Dividend Stocks in My TFSA
Written by Puja Tayal at The Motley Fool Canada The geopolitical uncertainty, rising inflation, and slowing business investments have made many investors take a step back and hold cash. Such uncertainty makes you question what will happen next and seek solace in hard cash. But it is also true that in hard times, one derives true value. Most stocks are directly affected by economic growth, but essential goods and services are resilient to the economic environment. When the going gets tough, these essential goods and services become a defensive play and outperform the market. They can give assured dividends in times of crisis and preserve your portfolio value. If you want extra income for tough times, consider investing through your Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA), as it allows tax-free withdrawals. You don't want a high tax bill while you are struggling with higher prices. Coming back to the essential stocks that can give you a side income in times of need. The TSX is home to some of the strongest dividend stocks. In this digital age, the internet is no less than a utility. Among the Canadian telcos, Telus International (TSX:T) has the highest dividend yield of 7.6% and the benefit of scale to thrive in the crisis. The company has increased its 2025 dividend by 7%. However, it will likely slow the dividend growth rate from next year as the management guides 3–8% dividend growth in the 2026–2028 period. This move comes as Telus adjusts to competitive pricing, reduces balance sheet debt, and restructures its business. A slower dividend growth rate will help Telus sustain the payouts even in a crisis. Now is a good time to buy the dip and lock in a 7.5% yield. A $10,000 investment now can buy you 455 shares, which will give an annual dividend of $760. You might think of Canadian Tire (TSX:CTC.A) as a discretionary retailer. However, in the current market, where people can't afford to buy cars and spend much on ski trips, Canadian Tire could outperform. The retailer sells auto parts, outdoor, leisure, and seasonal goods, along with discretionary goods like sports (SportChek) and apparel (Mark's). The retailer is looking to boost discretionary sales with its True North growth strategy. The strategy aims to increase its return on invested capital by focusing sales efforts on existing clients through loyalty points and data-driven sales pitches. These efforts could increase profits faster than sales if the outcome is as desired. Canadian Tire stock has already jumped 26% from its April low and is trading closer to its 52-week high. You can still lock in a 4% yield and expect the retailer to grow dividends annually, as it has in 21 out of the last 22 years. A $10,000 investment now can buy you 56 shares, which will give an annual dividend of $397.60. Enbridge (TSX:ENB) is an evergreen dividend stock. It is in Canada's most lucrative business – energy exports. Its oil and gas pipeline network facilitates the export of oil from Canada to the United States. The tariff wars created panic among investors around export volumes, but a negotiation could drive Enbridge's stock prices. Now is a good time to buy the stock and lock in a 6% dividend yield. The company will grow its dividend by 3% in 2026 and increase the growth rate to 5% beyond that. Supporting this growth will be new gas pipelines that come online and the reduction in debt levels, which increased after acquiring three U.S. gas utilities. A $10,000 investment now can buy you 159 shares, which will give an annual dividend of $599. Stock Stock Price Number of shares Dividend Per Share Total Dividend amount Dividend Yield Telus International $22.00 455 $1.67 $759.85 7.45% Canadian Tire $177.28 56 $7.10 $397.60 4.00% Enbridge $62.70 159 $3.77 $599.43 6.00% If you invest $10,000 in each of the three stocks now, you can get an annual dividend of $1,757 if these companies sustain their dividend per share. The three companies' fundamentals show that they can sustain and grow dividends for years to come. The post Why I'd Include These 3 Essential Canadian Dividend Stocks in My TFSA appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada. More reading Made in Canada: 5 Homegrown Stocks Ready for the 'Buy Local' Revolution [PREMIUM PICKS] Market Volatility Toolkit Best Canadian Stocks to Buy in 2025 Beginner Investors: 4 Top Canadian Stocks to Buy for 2025 5 Years From Now, You'll Probably Wish You Grabbed These Stocks Subscribe to Motley Fool Canada on YouTube Fool contributor Puja Tayal has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Enbridge and TELUS. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 2025 Sign in to access your portfolio
Malay Mail
11-06-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
No tax on essentials: Mat Sabu says govt prioritising food security in SST expansion
KUALA LUMPUR, June 11 — The government will continue to ensure essential goods like rice, cooking oil, vegetables, chicken and fish remain tax-free to safeguard the people's food security. Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said the implementation of revised Sales Tax (ST), effective July 1, only involves selected and premium goods, at a rate of 5 per cent or 10 per cent. According to him, the items in this category include truffle mushrooms, racing bicycles and king crab. 'This is a balanced approach where most people won't be affected, while those who are better off can contribute fairly to the country's development. 'Insya-Allah, the Madani Government will continue to ensure policies that are formulated are centred on the principles of social justice and well-being of the people,' he posted on Facebook. Based on the Ministry of Finance's explanation, the zero per cent sales tax is maintained for daily essential goods, like chicken, beef, lamb, fish, shrimp, squid, vegetables, local fruits, rice, barley, oats, wheat, flour, canned sardines, sugar and salt. Also included are white bread, pasta, vermicelli, noodles, instant noodles, milk, cooking oil, medicine, medical devices, books, journals, newspapers and pet food. Zero per cent sales tax is also retained for basic construction materials like cement, bricks and sand as well as agricultural sector inputs such as fertilisers, pesticides, and agricultural and livestock machinery. The ministry added that the Madani Government had taken measures to ensure the ST is not imposed on daily essential goods to avoid directly affecting the cost of living for the majority of Malaysians and to maintain a controlled inflation rate. — Bernama
