SHAH ALAM – Vegetable sellers in Shah Alam will not be raising their prices as the diesel price rationalisation move has not significantly affected their supply and overhead costs.
Speaking to Scoop, Zul, a vegetable seller in his mid-40s, said he did not feel that the issues surrounding the targeted diesel subsidies have severely affected the prices of his vegetables.
“My prices are still the same. I don’t think the recent diesel price hike will affect it.
Another vendor who prefers to be known as Mr Z, who is also the son of a seasoned vegetable vendor, expressed his commitment to maintaining fair prices.
“Our customers rely on us for affordable fresh produce.
“Even if we were to increase prices, it won’t be too much as we want to keep our prices affordable for everyone.”
Many vendors in Shah Alam have implemented cost-saving measures to absorb the impact of higher diesel prices.
These include optimising delivery routes and increasing direct procurement from local farmers to minimise transportation expenses.
As of June 10, the price of diesel in the peninsula was raised from RM2.15 to RM3.35 per litre, which is the market price without subsidies based on the automatic price mechanism formula’s for May 2024.
Despite the withdrawal of subsidies for certain sectors like tow trucks and tractors, subsidised diesel remains accessible to vehicles in the transport and logistics sector through the Subsidised Diesel Control System 2.0 fleet card mechanism.
The Finance Ministry has also introduced the Budi Madani scheme, offering RM200 in monthly cash assistance to private diesel vehicle owners, as well as farmers and smallholders in the agri-commodity sector. – June 22, 2024