マレーシア・ニュース

政府が粉ミルクの価格統制を検討

プトラジャヤ：原油価格の高騰を起因とした、物価の上昇に対処するため、政府は価格統制物品の見直しを進めている。今回検討されているのが粉ミルクで、２歳以上を対象とした商品で、乳幼児向けの粉ミルクは除外する方針。これは乳幼児にはなるべく母乳を与えてほしいという政府の考えが反映されたもの。

乳幼児向けの粉ミルクはこの２年で８０％も値上がりしており、夫婦あわせてRM１５００の月収（こども３人）の一般的な家庭では、うすめた粉ミルクをこどもに与えている現状があるとの報告もある。マレーシアでは原油価格の高騰により、消費者物価指数は109.1で前年同月比3.8％の上昇となっている。

無断転載はお断りいたします

[6月20日　9：46　MCS]

ニュース・ソース

Milk price may be controlled

PUTRAJAYA: The Government is considering whether to include powdered milk for children on the list of price controlled items.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad said however infant formula would not be subsidised.

“The Government does not subsidise infant formula because we want to encourage mothers to breastfeed their babies.

“The list of controlled items should remain as it is, although we are still considering several options. We have yet to make any decision.

“There are certain issues to be handled when we put items on the control list, such as if these are non-perishable goods,” he told reporters after announcing the Consumer Price Index at his office here yesterday.

The milk that may come under the controlled item category is for children aged two years and above.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had earlier announced the Government would be enlarging the list of price-controlled items as one way of easing the burden of higher fuel prices on consumers.

Malaysia Hindu Sangam (Penang) Social and Welfare Committee chairman P. Murugiah had said that parents with a combined income of RM1,500 and with an average of three children were feeding diluted condensed milk, rock sugar water, black coffee and plain tea to their infants and toddlers.

He claimed that this was because the price of infant formula had risen by 80% over the past two years.

Shahrir also said his ministry would meet the Veterinary Services Department over the import of chicken.

“We want to give our consumers more choices. At present, our production is around 123% so this is more than we need,” he said.

On the Consumer Price Index, Shahrir said he did not expect it to jump to a double-digit figure this month following the fuel price increase as transportation and petrol costs only made up 15.9% weightage in the calculation.

The CPI for May was 109.1, a 3.8% increase compared with the same period last year.

“The bulk of the increase came from food and non-alcoholic drinks items, such as rice and rice products,” he said.

<20-6-2008　THE STAR>