THE high cost of groceries and household goods is the top concern of a majority of working-class families, with almost all of them wanting the government to bring prices down.

A straw poll by The Malaysian Insight conducted in three regions showed this to be the response of all but two of 10 families, from the B40 group, when asked about their “No.1 wish” for Budget 2020.

All said they struggle each month to provide enough food for their children, pay rent and utility bills, and service loans for their cars and motorcycles.

Despite their bank accounts being nearly empty at the end of the month, only one family asked the government for more cash aid, refuting the common myth that the working class have a “subsidy mentality”.

All the families said they qualify for the government’s Cost of Living Aid, or Bantuan Sara Hidup (BSH), and for most of them, the assistance is enough.

They said Putrajaya should bring the prices of goods down by either intervening directly in the market or reducing the cost of petrol and diesel.

“BSH is already enough. I’m still getting it every month,” said lorry driver Ruzizam Ibrahim, who lives in Puchong Perdana.

“I just wish the government would do something about the prices of goods,” said the 38-year-old, whose salary of RM2,500 per month goes to his wife and three children.

Tailor Yusnani Abdul Daud, from Klang, said she is not hoping for more government handouts.

“I would just like more opportunities to do either business or other jobs to earn extra income. I want a leg up, not a handout,” said the 39-year-old single mother of two.

Roti canai seller Jamil Omar said he would like help to expand his business.

“Now, I operate next to the road. I don’t know how to ask for help. If I get a bank loan, I’m scared I won’t be able to pay it back,” said the father of two in Penang.

“I’m not asking for money, but aid in the form of furniture or a machine to make dough,” said Jamil, who makes between RM1,000 and RM2,000 a month.

Clerk Julian Janang, from Sarawak, hopes the government will further bring down fuel prices as they directly impact the cost of groceries.

“I hope there are measures to stabilise fuel prices. It could have a chain reaction, as it would also stabilise the prices of other daily essentials like food, and the cost of public transport,” said the 34-year-old mother of two.

Kids’ future in doubt

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng will, on Friday, table Budget 2020, which reports have said will likely be aimed at boosting domestic spending and investment in the face of a gloomy world economy.

Last year, the Pakatan Harapan government gave out RM5 billion in BSH to 4.1 million households with a monthly income of below RM4,000.

Each family got between RM500 and RM1,000, depending on the number of their dependents, such as children and senior citizens, and their income bracket.

Experts have blamed a combination of the country’s high food import bill, exchange value of the ringgit and monopolistic practices in supply chains for the rising prices of groceries.

The Malaysian Insight interviewed 10 families in Penang, Selangor and Sarawak, and asked them about their biggest monthly expenses and what they hope Budget 2020 will bring. Eight of the families are in the B40 category, earning less than RM3,000 a month, and all but one have children.

A manager at a cellphone sales and repair shop, who gave his name only as Wong, said with his monthly income of RM2,000, he cannot even afford a low-cost house.

“I’ve applied for all the government housing schemes, but have not received a reply from any of them,” he said, referring to PR1MA, or the 1Malaysia People’s Housing Scheme, under the former Barisan Nasional government, and PH’s My First Home Scheme.

“I hope the government will provide more help for people like me to own homes,” said the 42-year old bachelor, who lives in Shah Alam.

Taxi driver Rajan Manikam, from Subang, is thankful that his adult children are able to help with household expenses, but is worried about their future.

“Each month, the food bill comes up to RM1,000. Each day, we spend up to RM40 just on vegetables,” said the 65-year-old father of two.

“My kids are already working and they help with the expenses, but I worry about the wages of young people these days. Their salaries are so low and things are so expensive.

“Things were better when I was growing up. Back then, our salaries were not that big, but things were cheap.” – October 7, 2019.