Opposition ran out of ideas by using cost of living issue in political campaigns
NORHASPIDA YATIM
KUALA TERENGGANU - The opposition seems to be running out of ideas by making the issue of the raising cost of living as a political mileage in the campaign for the state elections and by-election.
Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Deputy Minister Fuziah Salleh said campaigns in the form of ceramah without data and facts would simply confuse the public.
“The government had successfully alleviated the nation’s inflation rate to 2.4 per cent within eight months. The same was for the Consumer Price Index (CPI), all were decreasing. That’s what happened. These data and facts are not false.
“The ministry will continue to empower the ‘Payung Rahmah’ initiatives to aid individuals across the country for them to gain profits (savings),” she said at a press conference after attending the Jelajah Rahmah Sales programme at the Tok Adis pasar malam site here on Saturday.
She said the government had worked towards implementing several programmes to overcome the cost-of-living issue under the Payung Rahmah initiative.
Fuziah explained that the Rahmah Sales programme organised by the ministry would always be held throughout the nation and not only focused on states facing elections soon.
“This is not only in Terengganu, but the programme would be done throughout the nation including Sarawak, Melaka and Johor (states not involved in elections).
“The additional allocation of RM50 million announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim towards the Rahmah Sales would have us continuing it to all Parliaments and State Assemblies including Terengganu,” she said.
Fuziah said the opposition must be responsible in making arguments based on facts.
“Don’t become the opposition who wants popularity and to gain votes. We (as the government) have spoken with facts and data,” she said.
Previously the issue of cost of living became the focus towards speeches and political ceramahs by the opposition for the state elections and by-election which will be held on Aug 12.
