Sabah wants the import duties on cement from Asean countries to be abolished as the state government announced cost-cutting measures to mitigate rising fuel costs.

Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman said the state would be seeking the federal government’s assistance to waive the duties in efforts to help the construction sector overcome rising costs.

He also appealed to the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry to expedite the standardisation of prices of essential goods nationwide to help ease the rising cost of goods in the state.

Musa also asked the federal government to extend the supply of diesel subsidy to public transport operators but cautioned local operators not to increase their prices without proper discussions with the relevant agencies.

"We need the federal government to review the poverty income level," he told reporters Wednesday after chairing a state cabinet meeting that approved several government cost-cutting measures similar to the austerity drives announced by the federal government.