Information Minister Khalil Yaakob joined the chorus of calls for recording companies to reduce the prices of CDs, VCDs and DVDs to encourage people to buy the original versions.

"These companies should not take advantage of the current crackdown on pirated discs by maintaining prices at their present levels. If the illegal copies could be sold cheaply, there is no reason for the original versions to be maintained at high prices," he said.

More profits

The minister was quoted by Bernama as saying that recording companies should not take advantage of the government's action (to eradicate piracy) as a way to get more profits if there are no illegal stuff.

Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi asked recording companies to consider reducing the prices of CDs, VCDs and DVDs to help fight piracy.

Khalil said his ministry would give its fullest cooperation to the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry to combat piracy.