By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Dec 8: Deputy Prime Minister Dato Sri Fadillah Yusof will chair a new special committee to address soaring prices of goods in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah, Sarawak Affairs and Special Functions) Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said the federal government is aware of the higher prices of goods in the three regions compared to the Peninsula Malaysia and aims to resolve the problem.
“In terms of logistics, certain areas in Sabah and Sarawak have their own livestock farms; therefore, the issue of transporting chicken supply should not arise.
“We are also made to understand that there are other issues whereby the supply of chicken feed has to be imported from outside the country,” he told reporters during the handing over of vehicles and assets to the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) Sarawak branch in Jalan Bako here today.
He further said the government has allocated RM40 million to implement the Price Standardisation Programme and RM225 million for the Essential Goods Distribution Programme, LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) and Community Drumming for next year.
These two programmes, he pointed out, will focus on Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan.
“We are also looking at other ways to collaborate with the State governments whereby there may be certain goods that a certain State wants to directly get the supply from outside so the Federal government will facilitate how we can help, including how we can consider the necessary additional provisions.
“Therefore, the new special committee will be chaired by Fadillah with the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) as the Secretariat.
“The committee will involve the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Finance (MOF), representatives from Sabah and Sarawak governments, and Labuan Corporation, where they will look into how they can stabilise the prices of goods for the people of the three regions,” he added.
Yesterday (Dec 7), the news portal Malay Mail reported that Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim, during his visit to Sabah, announced that he would ask Fadillah to set up a committee on how to deal with the soaring prices in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan.
At the same time, Armizan has witnessed the handing over of assets to APM Sarawak, which include seven four-wheel-drive ambulances (an addition to the eight ambulances received in August 2023), two Toyota Hilux, two Proton X70, five Perodua Ativa, eight Perodua Aruz, 48 motorcycles, one coaster bus, and two 250hp engine boats.
He also said the Federal government has set aside RM5 million to construct a new APM building in Sibu.
Also present were Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas; Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah, Sarawak Affairs and Special Functions) Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong; Sarawak Federal Secretary Datuk Ahmad Nadzri Mohd Hassan; and APM chief Commissioner Datuk Aminurrahim Mohamed. — DayakDaily
