PUTRAJAYA today fixed the ceiling price for face masks at RM1.50, which is 50 sen cheaper than the current price.

“From April 1, the price for face masks will be RM1.50,” Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said, noting the current market price of RM2.

“We will review the price again when the market price for the masks drop.”

The demand for face masks and other protective equipment has soared since the Covid-19 pandemic began.

Last week, Works Minister Fadillah Yusof said the government is looking to obtain 10 million face masks from China due to the lack of supplies nationally.

Fadillah said the face mask supplies would be co-ordinated by the Transport Ministry, together with an airline company.

The National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) will be in charge of the supplies but the face masks will be first sent to frontliners before distribution to the general population. – March 30, 2020.