Introduce Covid-19 self-test kit at RM5 by Nov, PH tells govt
10 Sept 2021
By Ilona Andrew
KUALA LUMPUR: The Pakatan Harapan (PH) Cost of Living Committee has urged the government to reduce the ceiling price of the Covid-19 self-test kit to RM15 by the end of this month and subsequently reduce the price below RM10 at the end of October.
In a joint statement today, the committee said the reasonable price for this kit in the future should be around RM5.00 and this price should be introduced by the end of November.
"The current ceiling price, RM19.90 is still regarded as expensive and burdening the citizens, especially to the B40 group. In fact, the M40 will also face a similar struggle.
"Every self test-kit is a kit that can only be used individually and only once, it cannot be reused. Therefore, the value will be worthless instantly," they said.
The need and demand for self-test kits are very high at the moment and it will continuously rise due to the fact that it is the fastest and cheapest method available to screen an individual for Covid-19, they added.
"The demand for this kit is expected to continuously increase and it will be an essential item in our lives in the post-covid era.
"The gradual reduction of price is considered based on the current need for suppliers and retailers to sell off their existing stocks," they stated.
The statement was signed by Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim, Hulu Langat MP Datuk Hasanuddin Yunus, Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen, Sekijang MP Natrah Ismail, Batu Gajah MP Sivakumar Varatharaju Naidu, Kota Kinabalu MP Chan Foong Hin, Rasah MP Cha Kee Chin, Maharani Assemblywoman Norhayati Bachok, and Kubang Rotan Assemblyman Asmirul Anuar Aris.
On Sept 22, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin announced that the ceiling price for the test kits have been capped at RM19.90 for retail and RM16 for wholesale.
