PH gives 24 hours for govt to announce cost of living measures

SHAH ALAM - The Pakatan Harapan (PH) presidential council urged the government to announce a full plan to address the issue of subsidies and cost of living within 24 hours.

The presidential council had also urged the ministers to resign, should they fail to make the plan public.

“Unfortunately, the people continue to witness how slow the actions of the Ministers are in addressing the cost of living.

“Therefore, the government must fully announce the plan to address the issue of subsidies and cost of living within 24 hours.

“If they fail, the ministers responsible for the cost-of-living issue must also resign,” the party said in a joint statement.

In the statement, the party highlighted that the Opposition Leader had repeatedly raised the issue in Parliament regarding the delay of the National Action Council on Cost of Living (NACCOL) to meet and take action last year.

“PH is very worried about the latest developments on the cost-of-living issue, especially after the announcement by the Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs yesterday that subsidies for bottled cooking oil, as well as ceiling prices for eggs and chicken to be abolished from July 1.

“In a situation where the people’s economy is affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, the people’s lives will worsen when the price of goods increases.

“At this time, the government has not announced any mechanism, funds and timeline for the implementation of targeted subsidies, although it is only about a week until the subsidy and price ceiling are removed,” the statement read.

The joint statement was made by PKR President, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim; Amanah President Mohamad Sabu, DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook; and United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) President Datuk Seri Madius Tangau.

According to PH, the current situation does not give the people much time to prepare for the rising cost of living, which might increase over time.

“This is not a proactive or responsible step.

PH said that it would also take several actions, including mass mobilisation with civil society and any other parties who wished to come together to voice the people’s anger.