FORMER finance minister Lim Guan Eng lashed out at Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob for establishing a new committee to tackle inflation and rising food prices issue.
“The Jihad on Inflation Special Committee will end up being another ‘empty can’ solution unless Ismail Sabri doesn’t take charge of the economic situation himself.
“Besides, what is point of setting up a six-men team only to be headed by the Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa?
“He cannot even get his numbers right on the cost-benefit analysis of the removal of subsidies for chicken, eggs and cooking oil (except 1kg packs),” he said in a statement.
Yesterday, Ismail Sabri announced the formation of a committee to wage “jihad” (holy war) on inflation.
Parked under the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry, the committee would formulate strategies to resolve inflation-related issues by gathering information from relevant ministries and agencies.
Apart from Annuar, others in the team are Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali.
On that note, Lim pointed out that the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and M40 group are not getting helped despite them being the most affected with inflationary pressures on their livelihood.
This has been proven by the rise in production costs and measured by Malaysia’s producer price index (PPI) local production.
“Many analysts contend that rising labour and material costs compounded by the severe worker shortage, caused the failure of the Government to facilitate the entry of local workers.
“The PM can help to mitigate rising costs by resolving the labour shortages of foreign workers at the stroke of his pen but has refused to take charge.
“How long can Ismail Sabri wait when the financial situation gets more difficult with even the consumer price index (CPI) for May 2022 exceeding expectations by increasing to 2.8%, despite all the price control imposed on certain goods?” the Bagan MP asked.
Act against profiteering
On related matter, Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) president-designate Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin urged the newly-minted committee to step up enforcement against profiteering by errant traders.
“We have received numerous feedback that some traders were jacking up prices, in some cases beyond the ceiling price set by the Government.
“Hence, the authorities must crackdown on these unscrupulous businesspeople and take action immediately,” the Plantation and Commodities Minister remarked. – June 30, 2022
