KUCHING: Some 500 lucky motorcyclists received early Hari Raya contribution from the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry yesterday.
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Deputy Minister Chong Chieng Jen officiated at the ministry’s free petrol refill programme at Petronas Service Station Batu 8 ½, Kuching/Serian Road.
“The petrol given is limited to RM5 per motorcycle which is a small contribution to the motorcyclists who are presumably under the B40 group.
“Although this contribution is not much, I hope it helps ease their burden during this festive season,” he told reporters after officiating at the programme.
Chong also alluded to criticisms from several politicians who claimed that the contribution was not enough and others who poured sarcasm on the ministry’s efforts to hold such programme.
“We are doing this for the people and those who are sarcastic about the programme may think RM5 is nothing but to the B40 group and the motorcyclists, it is a contribution that they receive openly,” he said.
He informed that his ministry had carried out the programme thrice this year – on May 26, May 30 (before Gawai Dayak) and June 4 (before Hari Raya).
Asked to comment on the festive season’s maximum price scheme, Chong explained that his officers were continuously monitoring all the supermarkets, hypermarkets and wet markets to ensure compliance to the scheme.
“So far, we are happy that there is compliance by the traders on the prices that the ministry had set, with some even offering lower prices.
“There are no actions taken yet from our supervision and as of today, I have not received any complaints from consumers saying that the traders are selling the items/products at higher prices than the scheme’s fixed prices,” he said.
