KUALA LUMPUR: Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin regrets the negative media spin on his statements explaining why the government could not control prices of goods and services in the country.
Hamzah, when contacted, said in his speech at the Umno general assembly he had merely used extracts of an Islamic hadith to relate to the current situation, which had been misinterpreted as him stating that "it is Allah who decides the price of goods."
He said the rise in prices had become a social issue since the days of the Prophet, when Muhammad himself had intervened to reduce prices in upholding non-interference in the free market concept.
"He didn't specifically speak of the free market, but that was what he was trying to explain to the people. In a free market, you must be fair to all," said Hamzah.
While the opposition has been using the goods and services tax (GST) and the rise in prices to undermine the government, Hamzah said the government remained steadfast in upholding the basic principles in a free market economy and refuted the political spin aired by the opposition that claimed the government did not address the cost of living and had left it to God.
"The prices of goods at the moment is one of the lowest in Asean. It shows that we control the prices well and are very fair in looking after both businesses and consumers," said Hamzah, adding that the government controlled the prices of rice, sugar, flour, cooking oil and cooking gas in order to help the people.
"The Government has been fair by giving subsidies for these essential goods. We spend RM2 billion annually to control the prices of these five essential goods," said Hamzah.
"Fresh produce such as fish, poultry, meat and vegetables, are subjective depending on supply. The price goes down if there is an overflow of supply and if there isn't enough, it will go up," he said.