Ministry to meet traders, NGOs, consumers to get views and feedback on cost of living next week

The Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry will meet with traders associations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and consumer associations next week to get their views and feedback on the cost of living and consumerism issues.

Its minister, Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin said he wanted to hear the opinions and complaints directly from consumer representatives and also to listen to NGOs' and traders' perspective on the price of goods and the cost of living.

He said all the views and suggestions from the stakeholders would be taken to the attention of the high level committee on the issue of the cost of living chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Hamzah said the committee's first meeting, which was initially scheduled on Jan 18, had been brought forward to this Friday.

In another development, he said the ministry will tighten up the granting of the wholesale and retail license of the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to curb the abuse of the subsidised LPG in the country.

At the same time, the ministry would also conduct a study on the best mechanism to address the existing weaknesses, he said.