Govt to spend RM20mil to control rising cost of living

PUTRAJAYA: The Government has allocated RM20mil for a special programme to curb the rising costs of living which will include creating a stockpile of seafood and vegetables.

The programme will be handled by the Federal Agricultural Mar­-ke­ting Authority (Fama) and Na­­tional Fishermen’s Association (Nekmat).

Fama has been allocated RM8mil and Nekmat with RM12mil.

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who announced this yesterday, said the fund would be used to import seafood and vegetables in large volumes to be stockpiled.

“Whenever there is a hike in the price of fish and vegetables, Fama and Nekmat will release their stocks to stabilise prices,” he told newsmen after visiting the Pu­­trajaya pasar tani at Precinct 2 here yesterday.

The Prime Minister said Fama and Nekmat would also sell the items directly to the consumers at its 517 pasar tani (farmers markets) nationwide.

Premier tour: Najib talking to consumers during his tour of a ‘pasar tani’ at Presint 2 in Putrajaya to check on prices of food items. — Bernama

“We have also asked Fama to increase its pasar tani so that the effort will be felt by all.

“As this is a special programme to lessen the burden of the people due to the escalating cost of living. There will be additional allocations made,’’ he added.

Agriculture and Agro-based In­­dustries Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the stockpile would be released gradually to ensure supply of seafood and vegetables remaied stable in the market.

He said the items to be stockpiled would include cabbages, red chillies, onions, coconuts, ginger and potatoes.

As for fish, he said these would include cencaru, kembong, selar, tongkol and kerisi.