PUTRAJAYA: The government is mulling the need to run "interference" at consumer level to tackle the low supply of goods issue, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said the matter was among issues discussed at length during the National Action Council on Cost of Living (Naccol) meeting.
He said the meeting also heard several proposed initiatives to deal with supply issues.
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"The proposed initiatives will be presented at the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday (Dec 14) and a decision will be made," he said in a statement after chairing the meeting on Tuesday (Dec 13).
Also at the meeting were Deputy Prime Ministers Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali and Bank Negara governor Tan Sri Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus.
However, Anwar did not elaborate what form the proposed "interference" would take.
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He also said that bulk subsidy schemes, which have benefitted the wealthy and conglomerates, should be re-channelled to benefit other groups such as the B40, M40 and petty traders who had been impacted.
He pointed to Tenaga Nasional Berhad, which has 10 million users but 10% of them are conglomerates who enjoy more than 50% of the energy subsidy.
"Departments must come out with a strategy to implement targeted subsidies, taking into consideration the interests of consumers and industry," he said.
Anwar said the meeting also discussed sustainable development for industries, including livestock farming, which has the ability to meet domestic needs as well as for export.
"The government intends to facilitate this industry to export its products and at the same time, ensure there is sufficient supply to meet the needs of the people," he added.
"This includes ensuring bigger and targeted aid is channelled to this industry," he said.
This was the second Naccol meeting which the Prime Minister chaired since he took office on Nov 24.
On Nov 27, three days after he took office, Anwar had called for a special Naccol meeting to discuss the cost-of-living issues affecting the people.
At the meeting, he gave government agencies two weeks to look into strategies, including the proposal of targeted subsidies for lower-income individuals and improving incentives for the private sector.
