KUCHING: Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Assistant Minister Chong Chieng Jen should abolish the Approved Permit (AP) system to import sugar, says Stakan SUPP chairman Sim Kiang Chiok.
Sim said this was to let Malaysians import sugar and enjoy the commodity at a lower price instead of the 11 AP holders.
“The monopolies of sugar import by two companies in Malaya were by the previous BN government.
“However, Malaysia is now under the PH government and Chong as an assistant minister, could and should have abolished the monopoly on importation of sugar by simply abolishing the requirements of AP to import sugar and allow free importation by all Malaysians,” he said.
Sim questioned why the previous government system was still being used.
“The monopoly will be abolished only when all Malaysians are to free to import sugar and not by issuing more APs as this would give an unfair advantage to the AP holders and not the people.
“Chong said food and beverage (FnB) manufacturers with APs are not required to reduce the price of the finished product, isn’t it unfair to other manufacturers and the public in general?
“The manufacturers with APs will have unfair advantage of lower cost and reaping more profit if they don’t reduce the price of their manufactured products,” Sim said.
“When asked why these 11 manufacturers were given the unfair advantage, he (Chong) claimed that it was open to all manufacturers but some would get less and some would get more to import sugar.”
“He should remove the AP to import sugar and all are free to buy sugar from the world market and enjoy the RM1.50 per kg instead of RM2.50 per kg,” Sim added.
