By Ling Hui
KUCHING, May 26: The Sarawak government will be introducing discounts on electricity tariff to food producers and retailers in Sarawak to reduce the cost of running their respective businesses.
The Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said this privilege will include coffee shops, restaurants, and other food and beverages industries.
The discounts are expected to mitigate the market price of food in Sarawak, he said when delivering his winding-up speech at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting here today.
Abang Johari, who is also Minister for Finance and New Economy, Natural Resources and Urban Development, Energy and Environmental Sustainability, said the Sarawak government is intervening to alleviate the burden on Sarawakians amidst the rising cost of living.
“The Sarawak government takes note of the rising prices of food and how it is affecting the cost of living. All these are due to the current geopolitical tension that leads to imported inflation and the ringgit’s performance against the US dollar that had declined 0.7 per cent in the first quarter of 2022.
“Malaysia’s weakening currency will increase import prices, burdening both consumers and importers. As Malaysia is a net importer of food, the imported inflation has caused higher food price domestically.
“Therefore, most of this is beyond the Sarawak government’s control. For this reason, the Sarawak government will intervene within our power and means to cushion the impact of the rising cost of living especially when it comes to food prices,” he added. — DayakDaily
