MCA Youth pans Putrajaya policies for worsening cost of living crisis

THE proposal to increase the ceiling price of local white rice before October has sparked great concern and anxiety among the people, said MCA Youth.

MCA Youth secretary-general Saw Yee Fung said this coupled with the expected surge in prices of goods following the diesel price float, will exacerbate the burden on the people’s livelihoods.

“First diesel, next prices of local white rice increases – how are people expected to afford essentials?

“Since taking federal office, the Pakatan Harapan-led government has been relentlessly targeting common citizens for financial resources. 

“New taxes like the low-value goods tax (LVGT) and increased sales and service tax (SST), along with the withdrawal of subsidies for poultry and diesel, have been introduced. 

“These policies, combined with the impending rise in rice prices, raise questions about how ordinary citizens will cope,” she said in a statement.

Rather than raise the ceiling prices, Saw said the government should focus on policies that promote farming to ease the burden on farmers and control the prices of essential agricultural products.

She said the government implemented these policies without considering their impact on the cost of living. 

“The surge in diesel prices, coupled with the depreciating Malaysian ringgit and expanding import costs, will further burden the people. 

“Instead of alleviating financial pressures through fiscal policies, the Madani government’s policies worsen the cost of living,” she claimed.

She said the government lacked a comprehensive and sustainable economic policy, with the only visible injection of funds stemming from Account 3 (Akaun Fleksibel) under the Employees Provident Fund. 

“Without new injections of funds to stimulate the economy, contributors are staring at insufficient savings upon retirement.

“It is disappointing that the government relies on the hard-earned money of EPF contributors as its convenient revenue source.

“MCA Youth urges the Madani government to devise and implement practical economic revitalisation plans instead of burdening the people further,” she added. – June 11, 2024