THE government must take immediate action to reduce food prices, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim told reporters after accepting a memorandum from two civil society groups today.

“The price of vegetables, chicken etc have gone up drastically and the government must address this immediately,” he said at the Parliament gates this morning.

Anwar, the MP for Port Dickson, accepted a memorandum from Otai Reformis and Badan Bertindak concerning the recent spike in prices. 

Vegetables have increased by 200% in price over recent weeks, according to consumer groups, farmers and wholesalers. 

Farmers have blamed a mix of factors that include higher costs of raw materials such as fertiliser; foreign labour shortages; and logistics and global supply chain problems.

The government has announced plans to sell food and goods cheaply in a twice-monthly Keluarga Malaysia sale to help people cope with rising living costs.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi told Parliament that the government will also deploy enforcement officers to check 1,500 outlets selling essential goods. 

“As prices usually spike during the holiday seasons, the government will start the festive control pricing scheme (SKHMP) earlier, ahead of the Christmas season,” Nanta said during minister’s question time.

The dates of the sale, he said, will be announced soon, but it will begin on Saturday. – December 2, 2021.