PUTRAJAYA, June 29 – A special task force will be set up to look into the increasingly higher cost of living in Malaysia with the view to helping people cope with the prevailing situation.
A press statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office said that the Cabinet at its meeting today, agreed to set up a special team to tackle inflation in the country.
The role of the team will be to gather all the information from the ministries, agencies and the public to formulate strategies and coordinate actions to resolve issues related to inflation.
They would be tasked with controlling the increases in the prices of goods more efficiently and effectively.
This special team will function as the team managing the COVID-19 pandemic, by holding meetings twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays.
A press conference will be held after each meeting to provide clarification on issues raised by Malaysians.
The move comes amid the rising cost of living as a result of climate change and geopolitical uncertainties, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which is expected to drag on and affect the food and fuel commodity markets.
The team will be chaired by Tan Sri Annuar Musa, Minister of Communications and Multimedia, with other members to be Minister of Finance Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Datuk Seri Dr. Ronald Kiandee, Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs, Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Dato Sri Mustapa Mohamed and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd. Zuki Ali.
A special officer in each ministry will be appointed as a reference officer (focal point) to provide immediate feedback to the team, which will be under the secretariat of the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs.
–WE