M`SIAN PM ABDULLAH WANTS PRICES OF GOODS TO GO DOWN

TASHKENT, Nov 18 (Bernama) -- Abdullah Ahmad Badawi wants traders to reduce their prices of goods so that consumers can enjoy the benefit of cheaper petrol and diesel in the country.

The Malaysian prime minister said the problem was that prices of most
goods had yet to go down despite the drop in fuel prices in the country for the
fifth
time, with the latest starting Tuesday.

"When the fuel prices went down, the prices of goods have not gone down as
well. This is what I don't like to hear," Abdullah who is on the second day of
his four-day official visit to Uzbekistan told Malaysian journalists
here.

He said the traders were only interested in making a big profit, thus
burdening the people.

The pump price of petrol will be RM2 a litre starting Tuesday, less 15
sen, while diesel will be RM1.90 per litre.

Abdullah said the government kept its word by reducing the pump prices
following the downward trend of global oil prices.

However, the government was always at the losing end as people would
still be angry with the government when the pump prices went down because the
prices of goods did not go down as well, he added.

Abdullah said the people should not blame the government all the time as
they, as consumers, had a role to play too in checking rising prices of
goods.

"I am glad to hear that some non-governmental organisations plan to boycott
some business premises for not reducing their prices," he said.

Abdullah hoped that consumer associations could enlighten the business
associations on the plight of the people through discussions.

-- BERNAMA