KUALA LUMPUR: The government has fixed the ceiling price for masks at RM1.50 each, 50 sen cheaper than the RM2 price previously announced by Putrajaya.
Senior Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that this decision was made after the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry (KPDNHEP) was told by the government to do so.
"This morning, we (the government) discussed this matter and we found that we don't have a lot of masks produced locally.
"We import most of them and so we are tied to the prices fixed by those countries.
"Due to that, the meeting agreed for the ceiling price for masks to be fixed at RM1.50, which is 50sen cheaper than what we announced earlier," he told a press conference aired live via Facebook today.
Nevertheless, Ismail said the government would continue to observe any changes in the price and it will be reviewed from time to time.
On hand sanitisers, Ismail said the government had yet to fix a price on the item as there are too many brands available in the market.
"KPDNHEP has not set a ceiling price for hand sanitisers yet because there are too many brands and the prices differ based on the brand.
"Some are imported while some are locally produced so right now, we don't have a fixed ceiling price yet like the masks," he said, adding that KPDNHEP will discuss on the matter when it is necessary.