nilah masalahnya bila naikkan harga minyak..harga barang semua terus naik..bila diturunkan harga minyak..harga barang ni maintain je..KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 18 (Bernama) -- "Fuel price has gone down but prices of goods remain high.
"Retailers are quick to adjust prices upward but tend to drag their feet when it comes to bringing them down!"
Those were among the grouses from consumers after the government lowered the petrol pump price by 15 sen to RM2.55 a litre and that for diesel by eight sen to RM2.50 sen a litre last Aug 23.
Most of them were already hard-pressed by the jump in the price of goods, sparked by the hike in petrol pump price by 78 sen a litre from RM1.92, and diesel by RM1 to RM2.58, in early June
Several days prior to the fasting month of Ramadan, a friend of this writer complained that the price of fish at the market was high. He said a fishmonger told him that the price would be higher in the coming weeks.
"Its the fasting month," came the fishmonger's nonchalant explanation.
It would appear that the fishmonger and others of his ilk were gleefully counting the profits that they would reap during Ramadan and the coming Aidilfitri festive season.
HIGH FOOD PRICEMeanwhile, there are numerous complaints that as Ramadan enters its third week, prices of food are still high and that they vary from one seller to another.
For example, the kuih (traditional cookies) costs either 40 or 50 sen per piece. In fact many traders are 'forcing' consumers to buy wholesale, by offering five pieces of kuih for RM2 and ignoring those who wish to buy, say two pieces for 80 sen.
A random check at a farmer's market in the first week of Ramadan revealed that prices of goods are expected to stay high throughout the fasting month.
According to a trader there, prices are only expected to dip after Hari Raya.
"The price is not government-controlled, it is decided by the wholesalers", said a trader at the same market with a hint of sarcasm.
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