PASIR SALAK: The government is taking steps to address the issue of the rise in the cost of living, says Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
The Prime Minister said various actions have been taken to address this crucial issue as it is impacting the people.
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“Recently, Opposition parties held a demonstration about the price hike of groceries after the Friday prayers which was attended by about 40 to 50 people,” said Ismail Sabri.
“Various allegations were made against the government as if we haven’t done anything to address the matter,” he added in his closing speech at the Jelajah Aspirasi Keluarga Malaysia tour at Litar Dato Sagor here on Sunday (July 3).
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Ismail Sabri said the government continues to subsidise several items like chicken and cooking oil.
“We are still providing subsidies for the items. The only thing that has stopped is the one-off subsidy for bottled cooking oil since it was introduced during the movement control order,” said Ismail Sabri.
“For chicken, we have allocated RM700mil to subsidise chicken to ensure the price remained at RM9.40 per kg,” he added.
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On July 2, Ismail Sabri said the government is implementing short-, medium- and long-term measures to address the cost of living issue, including providing RM70bil in subsidies this year to ensure that the people were not burdened by the situation.
Ismail Sabri had earlier announced that the current water and electricity tariff rate for domestic users in Peninsular Malaysia will be maintained and subsidies worth RM5.8bil will be borne by the government as the country faces sharp increases in fuel and other costs.
Ismail Sabri said this means a rebate of 2 sen/kWh is maintained for all domestic consumers and no surcharge applies.
The imposition of a surcharge of 3.7 sen/kWh is maintained on commercial and industrial consumers.
