THE removal of the requirement for approved permits (AP) for food products is in line with the government’s desire to ensure continuity in supplies, said Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi.

He said it is also expected to create an excess of supplies in the market that would benefit consumers as food products are easily available compared to the current situation.

“The market involving basic necessities will be more competitive and is projected to trigger a drop in prices based on a certain quantum, depending on the quality and packaging aspects,” he said in a statement today.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob had said the government had agreed not to impose the AP requirement to import foodstuff with immediate effect to ensure sufficient food supply in the country.

However, he said, it would take some time for the AP abolition to have a positive impact on consumers as it depended on several factors such as the procurement process, halal certification and customs inspection.

Nanta, meanwhile, welcomed the cabinet meeting which has been scheduled to start earlier tomorrow (May 23) as it would determine the government’s intervention in resolving the issue of increased prices of daily necessities, especially chicken. 

He said the intervention should implement cross-ministry and whole-of-government approaches to ensure that efforts to solve the problem are not implemented in silos and with no continuity.

Earlier, Ismail announced the cabinet meeting tomorrow will discuss the issue of rising cost of living and food supply.

Ismail said the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry and the Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry would each present a report on the issue, including the short-term and long-term plans to address it. – Bernama, May 22, 2022.