KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA 25 February 2025 – The government today reviewed strategies to stabilize prices in Sabah, Sarawak, and the Federal Territory of Labuan during the inaugural 2025 meeting of the Price Stabilization Committee (JPH). Chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA), Dato’ Sri Haji Fadillah Yusof, the session focused on addressing pricing challenges and formulating solutions for goods and services in these regions.
The committee discussed two key reports from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) on price stabilization, alongside updates on enforcement coordination and rice supply interventions from the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM).
Findings from the UMS and UNIMAS study pinpointed major factors driving up costs, including logistical hurdles in remote areas, high import-dependent production costs for items like fertilizers and animal feed, and limited local output of essentials such as rice, sugar, and beef. The report, handed over to state and federal representatives, outlined short-, medium-, and long-term measures to bolster supply chains and curb price hikes.
To act on these recommendations, the meeting greenlit the formation of a Technical Working Group Committee tasked with refining and implementing the proposed strategies effectively.
The committee also reviewed outcomes from a 14 December 2025 enforcement coordination meeting aimed at curbing the leakage of controlled goods, a move seen as vital to tightening oversight in border and coastal zones.
On the rice front, the government highlighted its ongoing subsidy efforts, with RM420 million disbursed for imported white rice in Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan from October 2023 to December 2024. An additional RM352 million has been earmarked in Budget 2025 to sustain this support.
Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, emphasized the collaborative role of federal and state authorities, alongside industry stakeholders, in tackling these issues. “This platform ensures we address challenges head-on and deliver practical solutions for the people,” he said.
The meeting underscores a unified push to enhance affordability and access to essentials across East Malaysia and Labuan.
Leave a comment