Filepic: Getty ImagesKUALA LUMPUR: Parents are urging the government to consider making baby formulas controlled items in order to curb their recent price hikes.

They are concerned that the manufacturers' indiscriminate increase in prices would cause lower income parents to choose the cheapest and lowest quality milk in the market thus jeopardising their babies' growth.  
 
A mother of two, housewife Azila Awaludin, 35, expressed her concern over the volatile prices of the products lately.  
 
"My husband doesn't earn much and I'm forced to choose the cheapest milk for my baby," she told Bernama.
 
Father of one, Al-Hafiz Jaamat Wok, 27, felt the government needed to play a bigger role in controlling the hike in baby formula prices.
 
"The government should subsidise baby formulas and not take this issue lightly as many parents are not able to cope with the extra expenses now," he said.
 
Wan Norasikin Abdul Cader, 42, who is a babysitter, said she had to spend an extra RM200 monthly just on baby formulas alone. 
 
"Supermarkets usually offer promotions on other items but never for baby formulas," she added.
 
Meanwhile, a Jalan Kasipillay mini market owner, K.Sathiah, 43, explained that people were buying less baby formulas since prices started going up recently. 
 
"Most people have to choose the cheapest milk and we have to sell it lower than the suppliers' set prices. I hope the government can do something to control the situation," he said.
 
A media report yesterday stated that some baby formula manufacturers have increased prices up to RM15 per kilogramme in the past two weeks and others would follow suit soon.
 
It also quoted Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob as saying the government does not control the prices of baby formulas.

- Bernama