BN Govt addresses rising cost of living by providing various programmes





KUALA LANGAT, May 6 (Bernama) -- The Barisan Nasional (BN) led federal government has been conducting effective intervention programmes to help the people, especially the low-income groups to handle rising cost of living, according to residents of Kuala Langat.

For Ahmad Zaini Diman, 56, the rising cost of living is inevitable in any country and the government's move to stem it is highly appreciated.

"In the past, the prices of goods were cheap, but at that time it was hard to earn money, the salary was very low. Now the money is relatively easy to earn as long as we work hard for a living," said the smallholder when met by Bernama here today.

Besides lauding the government's 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M), voters in the Kuala Langat parliamentary constituency want the government to increase the number of farmers' markets to offer low prices for fresh produce and increase the list of goods in the festive season price control scheme.

BR1M, introduced in 2012, is the brainchild of Bank Negara Malaysia with the aim to help ease the burden of low-income households following the implementation of subsidy rationalisation by the government.

Initially, BR1M recipients for households earning RM3,000 and below, received RM500 in the first two years of its implementation. Then BR1M was raised to RM650 in 2014, RM950 in 2015, RM1,000 in 2016 and RM1,200 for 2017 and 2018.

The Festive Season Price Control Scheme has been implemented since 2000 under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.

Meanwhile, a civil servant, Rabiatul Adawiyah Sulong, 32, said the government should revise the cost of living allowance (COLA) for government servants, especially for those working in the suburbs such as Kuala Langat.

She said the prices of goods here are similar to those in nearby major cities like Klang and Shah Alam but COLA in the area is placed under Class C, which is RM150.

Contractor Asmawi Tukiman, 42, suggested that programmes such as 'Sentuhan Rakyat' sale programme should be held more frequently.

"Such programme which looks after the welfare of the people is really good and the government should expand it, conduct it in every area once a week similar to the farmers' market. People will get to buy groceries once a week, so this proposal should be considered," he said.

-- BERNAMA