KUALA LUMPUR – Food subsidies provided by Putrajaya to alleviate the rising cost of living are meant for citizens of this country, not foreign residents, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Highlighting the increased costs of chicken due to global geopolitical factors, he admitted that he is not a fan of the move to implement subsidies for chicken but was forced to make the call as there was no other option.
“The government is aware of the people’s struggles and the immediate short-term step we took is to subsidise chicken prices.
“I don’t like this, but we had no other choice,” he said during his officiating speech at the Malaysian Trades Union Congress’ 42nd triennial delegates’ conference here today.
The Bera MP observed that while the government has resorted to subsidising food items to tackle the increasing prices, foreigners staying here are also unfairly enjoying the benefit paid for by Malaysian taxpayers.
Putrajaya was trapped in a conundrum where it had to consider the profit margin for chicken farmers and wholesalers after the Russia-Ukraine war triggered an increase in animal feed prices.
“We had to make sure that chicken farmers and wholesalers have some profit margin, but when we subsidise our chickens, it is not just our children who will be benefiting from it.
“Bangladeshi workers and the Rohingyas (who) we often criticise also eat chickens and we are paying for the subsidies,” said Ismail Sabri while noting that the government has spent nearly RM700 million on subsidies.
“The concept of subsidisation should be for the poor and they must be our people.”
Last Sunday, Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said that the total amount of subsidies is expected to reach RM80 billion this year, the largest amount in national history.
In stressing that the government cares for its people, Ismail Sabri pointed out that despite employers objecting to the enforcement of the increased minimum wage, Putrajaya has strived to ensure that workers are paid according to the new rate.
He said that the government had decided to reject all suggestions and excuses against raising the minimum wage to RM1,500 as the current state of the economy calls for workers to have a higher income.
“With the way our economy is now, it would be impossible for employees to even survive, much less live comfortably, on a salary of RM1,200,” he said, referring to the previous minimum wage prior to May 1.
Earlier, the Malaysian Employers’ Federation had urged the government to scrap the raising of the minimum wage as it would “kill businesses”. – The Vibes, July 2, 2022
