Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak hopes the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism can resolve the issue on the retail licence for sugar, flour and cooking oil with the retailers.

He said he had asked the ministry to discuss and resolve the matter with the Federation of Malaysian Retailers Association which is boycotting the sale of these controlled items beginning today.

"We don't want to impose a burden on them and the government's objective is merely to prevent leakage of these items and so on, as well as to concentrate on the retailers in the border areas because many of the goods there are being taken out to other countries," he said.

NONENajib (left) was asked to comment on the issue after holding a meeting with Kafa (religious) teachers at the national level, in Kuala Lumpur today.

On the increase in the prices of goods which also affects the middle income group, Najib said the government would take into consideration the interests of everyone especially the lower income group.

"If we want to give subsidy, we want to ensure that it reaches the target groups and most of the subsidies are being abused and this is a burden to the rakyat," he said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism said holders of the retail licence merely need to keep the invoice or purchase receipts issued by the supplier.

All retailers selling the three controlled items are advised to obtain the licence before July 1.

"The licensing of the retailers is aimed at ensuring that the supply of these goods is available at all times and to facilitate the public in getting them," the ministry said in a statement.

Free of charge

The retailing licence which is valid for five years is given free of charge and issued within one day of application.

Application for the licence can be made at any of the ministry's offices and retailers are required to bring their business licence.

In Kuala Lumpur, a check around Keramat, Kampung Baru and Sentul found that there was no problem for consumers in getting sugar and the retailers said they could sell as usual.

A check in Perlis, Pahang, Johor, Penang, Terengganu and Malacca also showed that there was no boycott in the sale of sugar.

The head of the Ministry's supply Unit in Perlis, Khairul Anuar Mohd Azmi said his unit was monitoring the matter to ensure there was no shortage of sugar.

In Malacca, there were supermarkets that were limiting the purchase of sugar to 2kg per family so that more people could get the commodity.

- Bernama