Govt surpasses target of creating 500,000 jobs, says PM

BERA: The government has managed to surpass the target of providing 500,000 jobs this year, despite the country facing the Covid-19 pandemic and economic challenges, says Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

The Prime Minister said with the success of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK), the country's economic growth was also expected to improve next year.

"When I took over (as Prime Minister), the Covid-19 case increased and we had to take stern action to save lives even though we knew the economy was tumbling at that time.

"Due to the success of PICK, we started to open the economy, as well as for businesses to operate, and the economy is now growing, " he said when opening the Bera Umno Women, Youth and Puteri delegates meeting here.

On the increase in price of goods, Ismail Sabri said sometimes, it was beyond the government's control, but efforts were made by the government to address the problem.

"We know price is rising and we are making efforts, such as organising sales promotion (through the Malaysian Family Sales Programme) of up to 50% discount, which is carried out in two areas at each parliamentary constituency,” he added.

Ismail Sabri said the government had also allocated RM100mil to the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry, apart from RM62mil in fertiliser subsidies as an initiative to overcome the problem of rising prices.

"In the cost of living meeting that I chaired, we have also agreed that traders should not increase the price of cooking oil; we provide an additional subsidy allocation of RM150mil," he said. - Bernama