KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 16): The Malaysian Iron & Steel Industry Federation (MISIF) has called on the government to act “quickly and decisively” on anti-dumping cases involving steel.

This is one of several measures the industry body is proposing to the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) to safeguard the interests of local steel players in light of aggressive competition from China.

MISIF President Datuk Soh Thian Lai said preliminary anti-dumping margins should be imposed while investigations are ongoing.

"There is too much export from China to Malaysia. If you ask me: 'Is China super competitive?', I say yes," he said at the 11th MISIF Conference on Status and Outlook of the Malaysian Iron and Steel Industry today.

Addressing a large crowd of industry players, Soh also urged the government to accord priority to made-in-Malaysia steel products in line with the government's "Buy Malaysia 1st Policy".

Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Hamim Samuri, who was present, told reporters that MITI would consider the proposals, but declined to specify a timeline.

However, he stressed the need for steel players to be united and work together with the government, besides displaying a sense of “shared responsibility”.

Ann Joo Group of Companies's Group Managing Director Datuk Lim Hong Thye said global prices of steel would rise if Chinese tax rebates were abolished and prices of iron ore also rose.