By Selangor Journal Team
SHAH ALAM, June 22 — Pakatan Harapan (PH) has urged the Federal government to immediately address the rising cost of living following the end of the controlled price of chicken and eggs, and subsidies for palm cooking oil.
In a statement today, the PH presidential council demanded that a comprehensive plan be unveiled “within 24 hours” to address essential food price subsidies and cost of living.
“If they fail, the ministers in charge of the issue of cost of living must also resign.
“Pakatan Harapan will also take several actions including mass mobilisation with civil societies and any other parties that wish to join forces to express the public’s dissatisfaction,” said the council.
PH said that the Federal government had not yet revealed any mechanisms, funds, or timelines for the implementation of targeted subsidies even though there is only approximately one week until the subsidy and price ceiling are abolished.
“This does not give the people much time to prepare for the rising cost of living which is likely to rise even more,” the statement read, which was co-signed by PKR president and PH chief Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Parti Amanah Negara’s president Mohammad Sabu and DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook and United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) president Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau.
The Opposition pact had also stated that despite repeated reprimands in Parliament, the National Action Council on Cost of Living (Naccol) meeting and subsequent action last year were delayed.
“Unfortunately, the people continue to witness the slow actions of the ministers in addressing the cost of living.
“In a situation where the people’s economies are badly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, the people’s lives will worsen when the price of goods will increase.”
Yesterday, the Federal government announced that the ceiling price control for chicken, and chicken eggs and subsidies for palm cooking oil in bottles of two, three and five kg will not be continued from July 1.
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said that the move was taken to assure that prices would eventually stabilise and that there would be a more stable supply of food on the market.
