Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says import conditions could be eased to keep construction material prices low and protect public interest.
PUTRAJAYA: The government may relax import conditions to ensure construction material costs remain low.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said this move would be considered if price hikes by industry players continue.
He stated the stance aims to protect public interests, particularly for affordable and low-cost housing projects.
“Therefore, we must examine the situation, and if this continues, we may be compelled to relax import conditions,” he said at the Prime Minister’s Department assembly.
Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said the goal is to safeguard lower costs if imports are cheaper.
He said issues involving price increases had been discussed with Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.
This includes matters related to chicken and egg cartels.
Anwar cited the government’s withdrawal of chicken price-control subsidies as an example of successful intervention.
“Every year, we spend RM1.2 billion to keep chicken prices under control,” he said.
He added that the bold decision to withdraw the subsidy last year did not lead to a price increase.
Anwar said he has informed relevant ministers about issues concerning steel, iron and cement prices.
He stressed that cartels must understand no one is preventing them from making profits.
However, he warned that price increases for these materials will drive up overall development costs.
This would directly impact the cost of affordable and low-cost housing.
The assembly was attended by several ministers and senior government officials.
