Start bringing down ceiling price of self-test kits now, govt told

Start bringing down ceiling price of self-test kits now, govt told

Pakatan Harapan says the price should be gradually brought down from RM19.90 now to below RM10 by the end of October.

The PH cost of living committee says the current price is beyond the means of the B40 and some in the M40 category. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA:
Aiming to lower the ceiling price of Covid-19 RTK-Ag self-testing kits by the end of the year is not good enough, and must be done progressively from this month onwards, Pakatan Harapan says.

Currently, the ceiling price has been set at RM19.90, but finance minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz said it will be lowered before 2021 is over.

In response, the PH cost of living committee said his statement “proves that the government is not considerate of the people’s welfare” as the current price is difficult for the B40 and even some in the M40 category to afford.

It said demand would remain high given its likely importance in a post-pandemic Malaysia.

“Therefore, the government ought to reduce the ceiling price to RM15 by the end of this month, and subsequently reduce it to below RM10 at the end of October.

“The reasonable price for this kit in the future should be around RM5 and this price should be introduced by the end of November.

“The gradual reduction of price is based on the need for suppliers and retailers to sell their existing stocks.”

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