KUALA LUMPUR: The government is taking heightened measures to control living costs given the higher food inflation rate, says Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying.
She said the average food inflation rate is at 2.1%, higher than the overall inflation rate which was at 1.1% as of June.
“We expected... an increase in the cost of food or cost of living owing to the expansion of sales and service tax (SST).
“The government, through the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry, will continuously monitor food prices to ensure (they) are controlled, especially essential items,” she said during Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (July 23).
Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin (PN-Larut) had asked the ministry to explain the measures taken to control food prices that did not reflect the inflation rate.
Lim explained that while the food inflation rate is at 2.1%, some places in the country might have higher rates because of other factors.
Earlier, she also said the government has outlined several assistance and subsidy programmes to reduce the burden on the people.
She said this included higher Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah, which had increased from RM10bil to RM13bil, benefitting nine million Malaysians.
“The allocation for assistance under the Social Welfare Department for this year has also increased to RM2.9bil from RM2.4bil.
“The government has also allocated RM1bil to more broadly address the cost of living, including controlling the prices of basic commodities such as rice and cooking oil.
"This includes the Payung Rahmah Programme, for which RM300mil has been allocated this year," she added.
