KUCHING: “Strange” — that’s the word used to describe Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Deputy Minister Chong Chieng Jen’s advice to SUPP to go to parliament for the names of the seven new sugar importers.
“It’s a strange advice. Is he not empowered to give this simple information? Or is he such a powerless deputy?” asked Sarawak United People’s Party Stakan branch chairman Sim Kiang Chook in a statement made available here yesterday.
Sim said SUPP is not against issuing more sugar import licences.
“On the contrary, we welcome the open policy to break the monopoly of sugar imports.
“However, it baffles us why the deputy minister dares not announce the importers’ names.
“His refusal is creating an air of distrust and does not reflect the transparency that the PH government has been trumpeting all along,” said Sim.
He urged Chong to be transparent and fair, and to announce the remaining seven white sugar importers immediately.
He further said Chong must take steps to ensure that the issuance of the sugar import licences will benefit the public through lower cost of sugar and its finished products.
“We need to be satisfied that all the new importers of sugar are transferring the savings from the cheaper cost of sugar to their end-products so that we the public will enjoy cheaper products thus helping to lower our cost of living.”
