KUALA LUMPUR, March 11 ― Putrajaya says it has not intervened to lower the price of basic goods amid complaints of rising cost of living as it is in talks with manufacturers and retailers for them to voluntarily make their products available for cheaper.

Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Hasan Malek said his ministry has met with “big companies” and negotiated with them to see how they can reduce their prices, even though prices of basic necessities such as sugar and rice are set by the government.

He added that success in doing so could have a cascading effect by encouraging other firms to also reduce retail prices, without explaining the mechanism used to prompt such firms to cut their prices.

“That is why we took the approach to meet the big companies, for example through the Federal Manufacturers of Malaysia (FMM), and two of the companies have agreed to reduce the prices and other shops will also follow suit.

“So there is no need at this point in time for us to reduce the prices of basic necessities as mentioned,” he said in Parliament.

Hasan did not, however, name the firms that have signed on or identify the products that will be sold for less.

He was responding to Pokok Sena MP Datuk Mahfuz Omar’s question on why the government has not reduced the prices of basic necessities for which it implements price controls.

The Kuala Pilah MP said there are now about 2,000 enforcement officers under the ministry to identify errant traders, and local government authorities have also been roped in to help, especially during festive seasons.