PRIME Minister Najib Razak today offered what is likely to be the government’s template against critics who argue that his administration is not doing enough to contain the cost of living in Malaysia.

Survey after survey commissioned by political parties and organisations show that the chief concern of Malaysians is the rising cost of goods and services, with many from the lower-income and middle-class finding it difficult to stretch their ringgit.

The rising cost of living is likely to be one of the main issues in the 14^th general election (GE14) with Malaysians complaining that RM100 gets them much less in shops and wet market today than six months ago.

But Najib, citing a cost of living survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit, said Malaysia’s cost of living is among the lowest in Southeast Asia.

He said this is an article titled “Prime minister’s speech on the people’s cost of living” posted on his blog, www.najibrazak.com, today‎.

“In the government’s effort to take Malaysia towards becoming a high-income nation, the cost of living issue is the government’s main focus.

“We have put in a lot of effort to ensure the people are not burdened by the cost of living. Among them are price controls by the authorities, distributing BR1M, removing the middle man and others.”

The PM said the government believed that these efforts have been more or less fruitful, given the findings by the EIU in its 2017 cost of living survey.

The survey compared prices of goods and services in 133 countries around the globe.

Najib’s blog posting comes after data released by the Department of Statistics shows that Malaysia recorded its highest monthly consumer price index rise of 5.1% since November 2008. This was higher than January’s 3.2% and February’s 4.5%, showing a slow rise in inflation rates.

According to the department, the higher inflation rate for March was caused by higher fuel prices, which was 23% higher than a year ago because of the recovering crude oil prices. The average price of 1 litre of RON95 petrol was RM2.29 in March 2017 compared with RM1.60 a year ago.

Apart from this transport, food and non-alcoholic beverages also rose 4.1%.

Najib said the government planned to do more to increase income and reduce the cost of goods.

He said the government is carrying out programmes, such as Tekun Nasional, Transformasi Kedai Runcit an Teraju to increase income levels.

In terms of controlling cost, the government would continue its initiatives, such as Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia, PR1MA, Klinik 1Malaysia and Baucar Buku 1Malaysia.  – April 21, 2017.