Prices of essential items stable in Labuan

LABUAN, Aug 15 (Bernama) -- Prices of essentials goods, such as wheat, sugar and cooking oil, in the Federal Territory of Labuan remain stable, Labuan Corporation acting chief executive officer Rithuan Ismail said today.

Rithuan said local authorities here have coordinated with relevant agencies and food suppliers to ensure there would be no disruption to supply.

In addition, joint checks with the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry (KPDNHEP) at hypermarkets and supermarkets here today detected no rise in prices and that there was ample supply of essential items, he told Bernama today.

However, he noted that the supply of chicken eggs here was still inadequate and the prices of eggs in categories not on the controlled items list - Grade AA, D and Omega eggs - were still high.

Meanwhile, Labuan KPDNHEP director Junaidah Arbain said that the ministry had taken measures to ensure the continuity of supply, including advising wholesalers and retailers to manage their stockpiles responsibly and to remind traders to avoid hoarding to prevent a spike in prices that could in turn, trigger panic buying among consumers here.

She said that delayed deliveries and rising demand due to anxious customers stocking up had led to a spike in prices of essentials in the past few weeks, especially in village areas.

She also provided an updated list of current prices of some essential items here, including standard chicken (RM11.30 a kilogramme (kg)), super chicken (RM12.30 per kg), sugar (RM2.85 per kg) and wheat flour (RM3.00 to RM4.90 per kg depending on brand).

-- BERNAMA