KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 3 — The Unity Government is committed to continuing with intervention programmes like the Payung Rahmah initiative and Agro Madani Sales, even though the national inflation rate has eased to 2.0 per cent, the lowest in almost two years.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the initiative will continue with the cooperation of state governments which will benefit the people in the continuous effort of the Unity Government to combat issues relating to the people’s cost of living.
In a statement after chairing the National Action Council on the Cost of Living (Nacool) No. 2 Year 2023 today, he said three consideration papers and two information papers aimed at the cost of living issues were presented at the meeting.
“The meeting discussed price control for standard round chickens and eggs implemented since February 2022.
“It is important that the direction of chicken and egg price control can be finalised to ensure the continuity of the supply chain,” he said.
Anwar said the Unity Government is also caring for the people over access to the medicine supply at more competitive prices so that consumers know the price to pay and could make a wise choice.
It is the government’s priority to ensure the mechanism of medicine sales is more transparent to benefit the people through the price display mechanism, and the meeting agreed that the ministry should study the matter before finalising it.
“The government is also sensitive to the possible disruption of sugar supply if no immediate action is taken to deal with related issues in the world raw sugar price.
“Accordingly, all these matters will be presented in the Cabinet soon to obtain the direction and to finalise it,” he said, adding that the meeting also took note of the planning and implementation of the Government’s Central Database System (Padu) by the Ministry of Economy.
Government agencies like the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) and the Farmers’ Organisation Authority (LPP) were instructed to be more proactive in acting as local white rice (BPT) distribution agencies, especially for rural areas.
This is an effort to reduce the people’s difficulties in obtaining rice supplies following the intervention measures announced by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security yesterday.
Meanwhile, the meeting also received clarification from Bank Negara Malaysia that major banks and e-wallet service providers that accept payments through DuitNow QR have announced that they will continue to waive transaction fees on micro and small businesses.
In addition, Payments Network Malaysia Sdn Bhd (PayNet) will also allocate resources to help finance the costs incurred by payment service providers, especially non-bank providers that continue to offer full exemptions to micro and small businesses.
In the meantime, Anwar reiterated the emphasis of the Unity Government on the main agenda of lightening the burden of the cost of living for the people to be given serious attention so that they receive direct benefits for every initiative and strategy implemented.
He also called on all government agencies at the Federal and state levels, as well as non-governmental organisations (NGOs), who need to work together to ensure the well-being of the Malaysian Madani community continues to be strengthened.
The meeting was attended by both Deputy Prime Ministers Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, relevant ministers, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali, industry players, NGOs, representatives of organisations, and academicians who are members of Naccol Council members.
— Bernama
