KOTA KINABALU – The federal government has been called on to increase its budget for Price Standardisation programme from RM40 million onwards to subsidise sudden price hikes in beverages and vegetables in Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan.
Sabah DAP secretary Phoong Jin Zhe said the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) should also increase its budget for similar purposes at the state level during the tabling of the Sabah Budget 2022 on December 3.
“If this issue is not addressed with the unemployment rate in Sabah being so high at 8.8%, it would be devastating for Sabahans and difficult for them to sustain their daily lives.
“Sabah has also recorded one of the highest fresh graduate unemployment rates at 9.3%.
“If the GRS government does not take this matter seriously, Sabah will experience a huge brain drain in upcoming years as the youth will not see any opportunity or hope in remaining in the state,” Phoong said in a statement today.
The Luyang assemblyman was responding to an article by The Vibes yesterday that reported Sabahans being burdened by increased prices of vegetables and construction materials.
https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/48240/sabahans-burdened-by-price-hikes-on-construction-materials-veggies
“As reported, prices of vegetables have increased threefold since two months ago, the Sabah Agriculture and Fisheries Ministry must not shy away, and should find solutions with all stakeholders.
“Many families in Sabah have fallen into the B40 income category from M40 due to the pandemic.
“The price hike on vegetables and beverages would increase the financial burden on these families,” he said.
Phoong said those who earn less than RM3,000 monthly in Sabah have increased from 32.2% (2019) to 38.6% (2020), which is solid evidence that Sabahans are financially suffering.
“Furthermore, Sabah’s commodity prices are already higher in comparison with the peninsula; a further price hike would not be adaptable to the general public as many have fallen into the B40 income group.
“A bowl of noodles in Selangor/KL may only cost approximately RM5 to RM6, but in Sabah it could be around RM8 to RM10.
“We cannot ignore this matter as the majority of Sabahans would be severely affected,” he stressed. – The Vibes, November 28, 2021
