KOTA KINABALU: A Price Stabilisation Action Plan Study led by Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) is underway to find ways of cushioning households and businesses against the global energy crisis and rising living costs, says Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor (pic).
The study, conducted under the National Cost of Living Action Council (Naccol), focuses on logistics reform and boosting domestic production as structural safeguard for the rakyat, he told the Sabah Legislative Assembly on Monday (Aptil 27).
"We are strengthening our economy by addressing the root causes of price instability caused by logistics inefficiencies and overdependence on imports.
"This study will help guide us to put reforms in place to stabilise costs and protect Sabahans from external uncertainities," he added.
State opposition leader Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal (Warisan-Senallang) had asked about the taken to address the rising cost of living amid the current global energy crisis.
Hajijii said the conflict in the Middle East had disrupted global energy supply chains, driving up fuel prices and inflationary pressures.
He said the state government supported the Federal Government’s move to maintain subsidised fuel prices at 1.99per litre for RON95 petrol and RM2.15 per litre for diesel in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan.
Diesel subsidies, he said, were critical to controlling transport costs and shielding consumers from cascading price hikes.
Other measures in place are financial assistance such as Sentuhan Kasih Rakyat (Syukur), benefitting up to 140,000 recipients, alongside federal schemes like STR and Sara, he added.
Hajiji said more than 800,000 Sabahans have already benefitted from STR and Sara with allocations amounting to RM1.25bil.
He also said the state was encouraging people to grow their own vegetables under the Garden to Kitchen programme to promote self-sufficiency and reduce food expenses.
The state also introduced relief through electricity bill rebates; discounts for welfare homes, places of worship and food-related sectors; as well as off-peak tariff incentives for small businesses, he added.
He said RM102.86mil allocated under the 13th Malaysia Plan to boost the state's food security would be focused on agriculture, livestock and fisheries output in the Sabah Interior Food Valley covering Keningau, Tenom, Nabawan, Tongod and Tambunan.
Other measures the Chief Minister cited included logistics upgrades, the Sepanggar Port expansion among them, to cut surcharges and improve supply chain efficiency.
"We will continue to monitor developments in the Middle East crisis and act prudently to safeguard the welfare of our people.
"At the same time, I urge all Sabahans to use fuel wisely, avoid panic buying, and not misuse subsidies so that supplies remain stable and sufficient," he stressed.
