RM200 rebate for energy-efficient electrical appliances

Malaysians, who purchase electrical appliances that have five-star rating in their energy efficiency use after July, can expect rebates of up to RM200.

Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Peter Chin said the rebates were part of Sustainability Achieved Via Energy Efficiency (SAVE) programme to be launched on July 7.

For a start, he said the rebates would be for refrigerators and freezers for the domestic sector and chillers for businesses.

“The rebates would be given at the point of sale and the retailers would then claim the amount from the Government,” he said after launching an energy efficiency forum here on Thursday.

Another RM4b petrol subsidies needed if no adjustment

The government may have to fork an additional RM4 billion on subsidies if no adjustments are made to petrol prices, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak said today.

He said that would be an addition to the RM10 billion in subsidies allocated for this year.

"Whether there is a need to adjust petrol prices, it will depend on inflation," he said at a press conference following a board briefing from Bank Negara here.

"A sharp rise in oil prices because of the uncertainty and developments in the Middle East will be the biggest threat to global economic growth," he said.

Fuel subsidy to rise

The fuel subsidy is estimated to rise by an additional RM4bil this year in the face of higher crude oil prices, said the Prime Minister.

The additional RM4bil pushes up the fuel subsidy under Budget 2011 to RM14bil, compared with the RM10bil estimation last year when oil prices hovered around US$85 to US$90 per barrel.

The increase in fuel subsidy would raise the budget deficit – which the Government has targeted for 5.4% of gross domestic product for this year.

Last year, the figure was 5.6%, while the target was to lower the deficit to 2.8% by 2015.

Angkasa to help bust boycott by Saundry Shop boycott sales of subsidised sugar because of burden getting new license

Federation of Sundry Goods Merchants Associations of Malaysia may boycott over the new government new license requirement for sugar selling


Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob wants the co operative association to help distribute sugar if boycott occurs.


MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek .
Some 7,000 co-cooperatives nationwide will be mobilised to distribute the controlled items of sugar, flour and cooking oil if the Federation of Sundry Goods Merchants Associations of Malaysia stops selling these items on June 15 over the issue of licensing.

National Co-operative Organisation of Malaysia (Angkasa) deputy chairman Datuk Abdul Fattah Abdullah said the organisation was ready to help ensure uninterrupted supply of these items by setting up a distribution network.

He said the decision was made following the statement on Tuesday by Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob who wanted the co-operative sector to distribute these items in the event the sundry shops refuse to budge from their stand.

Grocers threaten to stop sales over new licence

Sundry shop owners across the country are threatening to stop selling sugar, cooking oil and flour after June 15 if the Najib administration insists on requiring them to be licensed to sell these items.

MCA president Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek met members of the Federation of Sundry Goods Merchants Association of Malaysia, who voiced the threat.

He told them he would appeal to the government to intervene and find a solution.

“The move is not a protest but the association feels it’s an additional burden on them,” Chua told reporters today.

He said the federation represents 20,000 shops across the country that continue to serve most Malaysians despite the increasing number of supermarkets and hypermarkets.

Najib ask citizen whether sugar subsidy should be removed? Cost RM 1 billion.

Suzana Mohammad, an employee of a mini market ini Taman Jaya, Cheras, putting an out-of-stock sign on the sugar shelf.


The prices of food and drinks at Pak Su Mak Su’s stall in Tanjung Lumpur, Kuantan, stay the same despite sugar now costing 20 sen more per kg. Many other restaurants and stall operators also say they will not be increasing prices, at least for now


SUGAR-LESS: Mariah Yanti, 47, staring at an empty shelf where sugar in normally stocked in a hypermarket in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Many shops ran out of sugar after shoppers started hoarding it in anticipation of raised sugar prices.


"There's no logic in the government spending almost RM1bil yearly to subsidise a food product that can bring harm to the people," Najib told reporters after handing out awards to students who excelled in the Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) in the Pekan parliamentary constituency, here, Sunday.


Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, the Prime minister has called on the people to think if the subsidy for sugar should continue as the government has spent some RM1 billion annually on it. On top of that, the number of diabetics in Malaysia remains as one of the world’s highest. He said "What we should do is change our dietary habit by reducing our sugar intake. I myself drink tea without sugar.

This means we can change; we don't need so much sugar.” Tying in the subsidy with diabetes, he added that "There's no logic in the government spending almost RM1bil yearly to subsidise a food product that can bring harm to the people. The price of controlled items cannot be raised....we will monitor this.

We will also study the price of some commodities from time to time. What we do is in the interest of the people. The people should also view the sugar price increase positively, that is, by changing their dietary habit for their own good health. Despite the sugar price hike, the commodity was still cheaper compared to its price in other Asean countries.”

Asked about the effects of the sugar price hike on the prices of other goods, Najib said the government would be monitoring the situation.

“The price of controlled items cannot be raised....we will monitor this. We will also study the price of some commodities from time to time. What we do is in the interest of the people,” he said.

Najib said the people should also view the sugar price increase positively, that is, by changing their dietary habit for their own good health.

He said despite the sugar price hike, the commodity was still cheaper compared to its price in other Asean countries.