Bank Negara, MCMC urged to probe economic sabotage claims

(Bernama) – Relevant agencies, including the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), have been urged to investigate allegations that certain individuals are speculating on the ringgit for personal gains.

Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan said the agencies should check on the allegations which surfaced on the Internet recently that saboteurs had been speculating on the currency unit to keep it weak.

“I hope MCMC and BNM investigate the matter and if there is any truth in the allegations, the perpetrators must be brought to justice,” he told reporters after closing a social media writing course, here Saturday.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was reported as having said on Friday that the government would act against those who took advantage of the economic condition to sabotage the economy.

The ringgit has fallen to a six-year low due to, among others, plunging oil prices.

On the Goods and Services Tax (GST), Ahmad said unscrupulous traders who refused to lower the prices of certain clusters of goods after the tax implementation on April 1 could also be categorised as economic saboteurs and actions could be taken against them under the Price Control Act and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.