Call to ensure price stability
By Rosli Abidin Yahya

Consumers note an increase in price especially for items such as cooking oil. Photo: Hj Mohd Zaide 

Local consumers once again raised the issue of a notable increase in the price of products at village groceries.

They are hoping that necessary actions would be taken to ensure the stability in prices at the village groceries, just like their counterparts in supermarkets at commercial complexes.

They said that due to the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak, they have curtailed their border-shopping activities.

It was learnt that the prices of certain items - such as cooking oil - had been raised from 10 cents to 50 cents.

"We were wondering if small-grocery operators had deliberately increased the prices or if it is due to an upsurge of demand not duly met by supply.

"We hope the small groceries are not exploiting the vast amount of shoppers that choose not to go overseas due to fears of contracting SARS," they said.

Over the past few days, visits to several small groceries have led to the discovery of an increase in prices of certain items.

Consumers generally frequent village groceries near their dwellings for any shortages in their kitchen, since it is a waste of time having to make a trip to the town's supermarkets merely to purchase a few small items.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin