FOLLOWING public outcry on rising prices of essential items, a Umno leader urged the Government to get pro-active as the people are suffering economically due to the pandemic.
“The Government should stop their reactionary measures. We need proactive policies to control prices of essential times during tough times like this.
“We must ensure our people not only have enough food supply but also keep it affordable to all,” its deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said, in a Facebook post.
With the Hari Raya festivals looming over the horizon, people have complained that food prices have escalated, leaving many burning holes in their pockets.
While in some places chicken prices have shot up to RM9 per kilogramme (kg), prices of chilli have escalated to RM10 per kg and tomatoes to RM5 per kg.
Touching on the matter, Mohamad Hasan said that prices usually spike when demand is more than supply and the Government should come clean on where the problem is.
“If there is insufficiency, tell us how long our supplies will last. However, it looks like our price control monitoring and enforcement system also doesn’t look effective in addressing issues of suppliers raising prices indiscriminately, on top of monopoly,” he opined.
The Rantau state assemblyman also lamented that the Price Control Scheme for the upcoming Hari Raya, to be enforced tomorrow, only lists 12 essential items.
“Is the Government expecting the people to get squeezed further before the former decides to include other essential items on the list? Why do we need to wait that long?” he asked.
Mohamad Hasan then urged: “The Government must revisit its Food Bank Programme, as the strategy should include commitment and incentives, from manufacturers and retailers to keep prices affordable, especially the B40 group.” – April 20, 2021.
