WE have entered a new year yet many of our politicians seem to enjoy wasting their time talking and focusing so much on politics instead of finding ways to improve the country’s economy and people’s livelihood. All politicians, regardless of the political parties they belong to, need to stop focusing on politics. The general election took place in 2022.. Until the next one, all politicians need to set aside their political differences and work together for the sake of the country and the people.

Instead of talking so much about politics, our politicians need to give their full focus to improving the economy and the lives of the people. Many people are still struggling to sustain their daily lives. Economic uncertainty and the high cost of living are still troubling the people. It is the politicians’ job to find smart and effective ways to ensure the economy becomes stronger and raise the income of the people so they can cope with inflation. People are fed up with political discussions. 

At the same time, we are still faced with the spread of Covid-19 and its variants. Politicians must ensure the people’s safety is guaranteed. Lately, there have been many complaints about the high price sof goods and services. Our politicians and elected leaders must investigate these complaints. Stern action must be taken against those who break the law, especially in relation to profiteering.

Our country already has strong laws to deal with profiteering. What is profiteering? Profiteering refers to sellers taking excessive profits on goods or services. The regulations to determine unreasonably high profit for goods or services are the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 and Price Control and Anti-Profiteering (Mechanism to Determine Unreasonably High Profit for Goods) Regulations 2018. These regulations ensure that sellers do not take advantage of consumers. Where such an offender is a body corporate, it is liable to a fine not exceeding RM500,000 and, for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding RM1,000,000. Where the offender is not a body corporate, it is liable to a fine not exceeding RM100,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to both, and for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding RM250,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to both.

Everybody needs to play their role to ensure no one in the country commits profiteering. Politicians, especially the MPs and assemblymen, must actively engage with the people and ask them about their needs and problems. The elected representatives must act at once on the complaints they receive from the people. The enforcement agencies must also do their job. They must strictly deal with individuals or organisations taking advantage of the people. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have played and will continue to play an important role in helping the people. All NGOs must educate the people to raise awareness of many social and economic issues. The NGOs also need to channel the input from the people to the government so that the government can truly understand people’s struggles and needs. – January 19, 2024.

* Muzaffar Syah Mallow reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.