Rise in sugar & fuel prices

The latest increase in sugar and fuel prices will not burden the rakyat too much, says Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism Deputy Minister Tan Lian Hoe.

gerakan agm 151011 tan lian hoe“The rise in sugar price does not give a big impact to consumers as every household only uses an average of 5kg a month; the (20 sen) price increase per kg only costs them RM1 extra a month,” Tan (right) told the Dewan Rakyat during the Question Time today.

In her reply to Che Uda Che Nik (PAS-Sik), the deputy minister explained that the rise in fuel prices also represent a minute increase for the average road user and is not a big burden.

Che Uda asked the deputy minister if the rise in prices of fuel and essential goods would negatively impact the rakyat, especially the low income earners.

Tan added that other than subsidies, the government is also taking other measures to help alleviate the rising cost of living from becoming a burden to the rakyat.

Such measures, she related, include efforts like Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia (KR1M) which sells household goods cheaper; allowing more discount hypermarkets to be built; and monitoring and ensuring goods are reasonably priced.

‘BN actually brings benefits’

In her supplementary question the Sik MP then queried the deputy minister whether the government was neglecting the rakyat in rural areas as almost all of the measures she mentioned, such as KR1M and hypermarkets are all located in urban localities.

“Isn’t the government neglecting the rural communities? Those are government strongholds, Umno won in many rural seats,” Che Uda asked.

Tan, however, refuted his claims adding that KR1M shops are now located in rural communities and even hypermarkets have penetrated the interior districts.

“Your allegations are not true. BN actually bawa nikmat (brings benefits) not barang naik (increasing prices) as the opposition say,” she countered.

The slashing of government subsidies and increasing the cost of essential goods has been the fuel for opposition attacks against the government, though BN maintains that subsidy cuts are necessary as the country can no longer afford them.

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