MIRI – With inflation and the shortage of basic food items that are burdening the people, Miri MP Chiew Choon Man hopes to gain cooperation from local suppliers to find a temporary solution to remedy the situation in time for the Chinese New Year festivity.
“The shortage of eggs has been going on, and the federal government has been looking into it, hoping to have a good solution.
“Yet, while importing eggs is the possible solution, we need to also take into account the safety and health issues before we are able to get the supply in time for the festivity,” he told reporters at the press conference in his newly launched Miri P219 Parliament Service Centre at Pujut 3 yesterday.
On the pork supply issue, Chiew informed that the shortage of pork was mainly caused by African swine fever (ASF) as hundreds of pigs had to be culled to contain the spread of the disease.
He added that some pig farmers had disclosed to him that they have yet to receive any compensation for loss due to ASF promised to them and that he would continue to help them follow up on the issue.
On a short-term solution to inflation and the shortage of food items, Chiew suggested that food baskets be distributed to the B40 group to help them weather through the festive season, and possibly to collaborate with local supermarkets to organise events similar to Jualan Keluarga Malaysia, where food is sold at affordable prices.
According to Chiew, assisting the people in reducing the impact of inflation is one of the priorities in his manifesto, alongside other concerns such as facilitating and working towards increasing the people’s income, providing educational support to the young, and assisting in rebuilding the tourism sector in Miri.
He reiterated that his team and him are very ambitious and have a lot of hope to develop Miri.
At the same time, he added that there is also a lot of work that needs to be carried out, be it parliamentary duty, manifesto, or federal issues in his constituency; yet there are limitations in time and manpower to do all of it.
Therefore, he urged members of the public who have the goodwill and kind intention to contribute to Miri to join the team either as volunteers or interns.
He said those who are interested can send a message through WhatsApp at 012-852-0946 or write in via email. – Borneo Post Online, December 28, 2022
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