PASIR SALAK: The issue of the rising cost of living is being addressed and the people will not be allowed to suffer, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
He said the government was providing subsidies worth RM77.7bil for chicken, fuel, electricity, eggs, cooking oil and water.
“We are still providing subsidies for these items. The only thing that has stopped is the one-off subsidy for bottled cooking oil since that was introduced during the Covid-19 movement control order.
“For chicken, we have allocated RM700mil worth of subsidies to ensure that the price remains at RM9.40 per kilo,” he said in his closing speech during the Malaysian Family Aspiration tour at Litar Dato Sagor here yesterday.
Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said Malaysia’s projected expenditure of RM77.3bil for consumption subsidies this year was the highest subsidy ever borne by any government.
The projected consumption subsidies cover petrol, diesel, liquefied petroleum gas (RM37.3bil), cooking oil (RM4bil), flour and electricity to reduce the cost of living, as well as subsidy bills (RM9.7bil) that exclude other welfare assistance.
Ismail Sabri said among the measures the government was carrying out was the provision of RM2,600 a year under Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat for B40 families.
“If that is not enough, perhaps in the third or fourth phase, we will channel more help,” he added.
He said the government would keep providing assistance, either in terms of material or support, in nurturing the spirit of unity to find common ground in diversity.
“The government will continue to focus on programmes and initiatives that bring prosperity and benefits to Keluarga Malaysia to ensure that no one is left behind,” he added.
He also hit out at some parties for accusing the government of not acting on the rising cost of living.
“The government is aware that the prices of many goods have increased. I did random surveys myself at business premises, supermarkets and so on,” he added.
Also present during the event were Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon and Pasir Salak MP Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman.
Separately, Tajuddin said he wanted Ismail Sabri to continue as Prime Minister after the 15th General Election.
“He has not made any mistakes. Why are there allegations that he is not fit to be Prime Minister?
“He has done a lot of things to lessen the burden of the people in his first year as Prime Minister,” he said at the ceremony.
Tajuddin was removed as a member of the Umno supreme council last month. He has also been appointed as ambassador to Indonesia.
