Izah Azahari

From the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, the pricing of face masks became an issue for the Ministry of Finance and Economy (MoFE). It led to an immediate survey, and a pricing list was subsequently posted on the Department of Economic Planning and Statistics (JPES) website, for public reference.

This was explained by Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah during a press conference at the Ministry of Health (MoH) yesterday.

He said, “Since then, things have changed, as we are witnessing a global shortage of face mask supplies. The successful securing of face mask supplies in the last week should be reserved for the front-liners who are more at risk, as they have to deal with potential cases and need more protection.

“We have also tried other suppliers as well, and another batch is coming in. It doesn’t mean that when there’s plenty, we will just use it up. We need to ensure that we reserve these masks, as we don’t know how long the COVID-19 outbreak will last, and also whether there will be enough supplies out there,” Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew said.

The minister also revealed that the MoFE is holding talks with a number of individuals willing to invest in the local production of face masks.

He added, “and if the outcome is successful, it will reduce the challenge on face mask supplies. Because of the huge global demand for face masks, the prices are inevitably very difficult to control.

“From Brunei’s standpoint, there is a need to understand the global supply situation if prices are increasing; and restricting prices will enable people to sell them locally, to the point of not having any more supplies. In the current circumstances, the MoH said that there is no need to wear face masks, but, of course…if you feel like you need the protection, then it’s all right, but this is not suggesting that everyone must wear them.”