The Pan-Malaysian Lorry Owners Association (PMLOA) will not hike transport costs following the readjusted subsidies for fuel announced by the government yesterday.

The association of 10,000 members throughout the country including Sabah and Sarawak will absorb the five sen cut in subsidies for per litre of petrol and diesel.

     

“We have to absorb the cost of the five sen reduction in fuel subidy. Even though profitabilty in the transportation sector is currently is not so good, our members have agreed to absorb the additional cost,” association president Er Sui See told Bernama .

He said the associaton would review costs if the government reduced the subsidies further.

“Five sen we still can absorb but if the government plans to increase (subsidy reduction) to 15 or 20 sen in the future, we may consider increasing costs, it depends on discussions with our members,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM) appealed to all vendors and building material suppliers not to take advantange of the subsidy cuts and charge higher prices.

“MBAM appeals to all parties to assist to create a more stable construction market and thus sustain demand stability to support the supply chain and the construction industry,” said its president Kwan Foh Kwai in a statement.

Kwan said MBAM hoped that govenment would consider giving at least six months notice before effecting any increases so that the construction industry could adjust to the changes and to minimise any adverse impact on the industry.

Muslim restaurant operators to retain prices

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Operators Association (Presma) said they will not raise the prices of food and drinks despite the revision in the prices of sugar and fuel due to subsidy cuts.

Its president, Noorul Hassan Saul Hameed, said for the time being, Presma members would retain the prices of items like roti canai and teh tarik.

“I have advised our members to retain the prices for the time being but if suppliers raise the prices of foodstuff and ingredients, then we may have to increase our prices,” he said when contacted today.

Asked whether the prices of items with less sugar content would be reduced, he said the association would study the mechanism.

The matter was discussed with the Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism Ministry recently, he added.

“It may take some time as we need to get the views of our members on the matter,” he said, adding that the association has about 1,300 members.

   

Noorul said depending on locations and ingredients, teh tarik fetched between 80 sen and RM1.50 a glass, a piece of roti canai between 80 sen and RM1, and fried noodles between RM3 and RM5 a plate.

- Bernama