Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has defended the current ceiling price of RM1.50 for three-ply face masks, stressing that it was set after taking into account all related costs for retailers and manufacturers.

"However appeals (for subsidy) can be made to the Finance Ministry because subsidies involve the Finance Ministry," said Ismail, who is also coordinating senior minister for the security cluster, at the daily Covid-19 update press conference in Putrajaya.