PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has rebutted criticisms by opposition parties that the government doesn't care about issues faced by the rakyat, including the cost of living.
The Prime Minister said the prices of necessities such as chicken, eggs, and cooking oil are believed to be lower and more stable compared to the previous government.
"For example, in 2021 before the change of government, how much was the price of chicken? Up to RM13 per kilogramme (kg), now it is much lower. Cooking oil, five kg at that time reached RM45, so my opposition friend complained, but they have forgotten.
"When they were in charge, the price of five kg of cooking oil was RM45 to RM50. Now it's around RM27. Chicken eggs, previously there was a fuss about the limited stock, now it's stable. This also includes the price of chicken which has decreased compared to two years ago without the aid of a ceiling price," he said at the Prime Minister's monthly assembly, here today.
Anwar said although there is still a local rice issue that the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry are still working hard, Malaysia has seen a decrease of about RM2 to RM3 in prices of imported rice.
"Furthermore, we have also continued to channel the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR). "If in 2023 there were nine million recipients, benefiting 60 per cent of our adult population with an allocation of RM8 million, this year, we allocated RM10 billion for STR.
He said the maximum rate for 2023 was RM3,100 for one family, while now it was RM3,700.He added that the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah of which the first phase had been distributed in January had also increased fivefold.
"In 2023 (the allocation) was RM130 million but in 2024 (the allocation) is RM700 million."The recipients in 2023 were only from the hardcore poor, but for 2024 we are also distributing it to the poor. About 700,000 people will receive it," he said.
On another matter, Anwar said some early reformation steps put in place by the government has successfully increased investment besides and gained Malaysia recognition from foreign countries.
This includes enactment of the Public Finance and Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) 2023, which makes the government more disciplined in economic and fiscal management.
"This act means the Finance Minister would delegate some of his tasks to be directly monitored by Parliament. He is not exempted.
"I had to do this because it will help increase confidence among the public, domestic and foreign investors," he said.
