JOHOR BARU: The National Action Council on Cost of Living (Naccol) will meet next week to discuss efforts to alleviate the rising cost of living, says Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub(pic).
The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister said a total of five papers on solving cost of living issues will also be presented by the relevant ministries during the meeting on Tuesday (Dec 13).
“This will be the first Naccol meeting that will be attended by about 15 ministries under the council.
“Five papers will also be presented by the relevant ministries, including the Transport Ministry, the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry, the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry and the Energy Ministry (now known as Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry).
“The discussion will be centered around the cost of living issues. Following the meeting, we will be able to make a decision on ways to curb this issue, which is a hot topic and is also one of the main problems Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is committed to tackle,” he said.
He said this in a press conference after attending a mass circumcision programme held at Masjid Al Mizan Kempas here on Saturday (Dec 10).
He noted that his ministry will also be having a meeting with the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry on the same day to discuss food chain and supply.
“Based on what I have observed and my surprise visits to grocery stores as well as markets, it is clear that there is a shortage of subsidised eggs and subsidised 1kg cooking oil in polybags.
“As such, it is important for the two ministries to work together to ensure that there is no problem in the food country’s food chain as such an issue will affect the price of goods and essentials.
“Following the meeting between the two ministries, another meeting will also be held with industry players for us to get to the bottom of this problem and find the answers as to how such a shortage could happen,” he said.
