Continuous politicking and a lack of clarity in addressing the spiralling cost of living are creating a feeling of uncertainty and uneasiness among the people.
Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) secretary-general Datuk Dr Paul Selvaraj said the spiralling cost of living is a longstanding issue, and the government seems to have no clear direction on how to solve the problem.
“This is because there is too much politicking. The government must focus on this fundamental issue, which encompasses food, healthcare, public transport, housing, and childcare support services.
“Once the election is over, the focus should only be on the rakyat. It should also be on governance, not politics.
“Yet, there seems to be a lack of clarity on the way forward in addressing issues related to the cost of living, when this should be the government’s biggest priority.”
Parti Pribumi Bersatu deputy president, Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu, on Thursday, had said there was just too much political talk in Malaysia, at the expense of real issues affecting the people.
Selvaraj, who was responding to Ahmad Faizal’s comments, went on to say that food was becoming increasingly expensive for people across the board.
“Much has also been said about the food cartels… the government must look into this, as they gave their commitment this year,” he added.
In January, Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub said dismantling food cartels would be the ministry’s top priority this year.
Selvaraj added that there were many structural issues that impacted the cost of living which the government needs to address.
“When it comes to housing, we have issues like insufficient land, lack of housing, and overpriced homes,” he said.
“As for healthcare, we are seeing how the system is overburdened … the same goes for public transportation, which has been ‘breaking down’ too often. This creates distrust and adds on to the cost of living, because people are forced to rely on their cars to get to work.
“We must have a sustainable way forward. More focus and clarity is needed, so that people can have a better life during this difficult period,” he added.