EVEN with a monthly household income of RM8,000, Sukhairi Samsudin still has to stretch every ringgit to feed his family of four children and said he and his wife make “just enough to get by”.

Families like Sukhairi’s make up the middle 40% of households in the country and still feel the pressure from rising food and household goods’ prices despite not getting much help from the government.

Their worries on cost-of-living pressures echo less well-off families The Malaysian Insight interviewed who wanted the government to rein in inflation next year.

“Even though I live in Permatang Pauh, my salary is just enough for one month only,” said Sukhairi as he and his wife shopped for groceries at a government-sponsored wet market.

For other M40 families like theirs, the market, organised by the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) and Penang government are a godsend as it offers groceries at steep discounts.

Bags of vegetables that normally cost RM3 to RM4 in supermarkets are offered at RM1 while whole chickens, that can cost up to RM12 per kg, are priced at RM8.

M40 families told The Malaysian Insight that given the steady rise in prices, the authorities should hold more farmers’ markets like these to ease cost-of-living pressures.

Sukhairi was able to save up to 50% of his usual grocery bill by shopping at the market.

For instance, a whole chicken cost RM8, a bag of large onions (RM5) and three pineapples (RM10).

“The prices at the Fama market are five to 10% lower than normal stores and markets,” said Sukhairi, who works in the public sector.

“Markets like these should be held more frequently for middle- and low-income families to shop,” said the 45-year-old.

“The cost of educating my kids is about RM1,000 per month and I spend between RM500 and RM600 on food.”

Government adviser Daim Zainuddin blamed the high cost of food on Malaysia’s agricultural sector, which does not produce enough fresh food for domestic consumption.

Bank officer Jamilah Ariffin, 59 was another shopper who took the opportunity to buy as much as possible for her family’s monthly consumption.

She bought chickens and packets of fresh vegetables priced at RM1 each.

“I buy enough fresh food for two to three weeks. Ikan kembung (Indian mackerel) is RM8 per kg compared to RM12 per kg at other places,” said Jamilah, whose household income is about RM8,000 per month.

She echoed the sentiments of other middle-class families who wished that the government could do more to bring down the price of fresh food.

“The government need not bring down the prices for all things just fresh food is enough since it is a daily necessity. Ten to 20 sen discounts are good enough.”

Although he has only one child, Mohamad Khairul Azni Abu Bakar is feeling the pinch of providing for his small family despite having a monthly household income of RM4,000.

“I save up a lot. Having enough to pay for car loans, education loans and other monthly expenses is a struggle every month,” said the 29-year-old as he bought loads of vegetables, meat and dry goods.

“Over here, potatoes are RM1 for 250g. One kg is just RM4 whereas other markets will sell at RM8.” – December 25, 2019.