PRIME Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob must take charge of the committee set up to tackle inflation to show he is committed to solving the problem, Lim Guan Eng said today.

Otherwise, the committee would be nothing more than an empty “talk shop”, the national DAP chairman said. 

“The Jihad On Inflation Special Committee would end up as another empty ‘talk shop’ without any concrete action if Ismail does not take charge personally to emphasise the government’s serious commitment in addressing the severe financial crisis plaguing the rakyat and businesses,” Lim said in a statement.

Yesterday, Ismail announced that the government will be setting up a six-man committee to wage “jihad” on inflation.

The committee will be chaired by Communications and Multimedia Minister Annuar Musa. Its members include Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Ronald Kiandee, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Mustapa Mohamed and Chief Secretary to the Government Mohd Zuki Ali.

Lim, who is also Bagan MP, slammed Annuar’s appointment to head the committee, saying he can’t even get his numbers right. 

“Annuar had made the false claim last week that the government had decided to increase the subsidies’ value by reviewing the current subsidies even though the government had only passed on to the rakyat RM630 million of the RM960 million in savings from the removal of subsidies for chickens, eggs and cooking oil. 

“In saving RM960 million from subsidy removals but only giving out RM630 million in additional aid in the form of extra cash of RM100 to B40 households and RM50 to bachelors, means the rakyat loses out on RM330 million in previous subsidy benefits.

“Can we expect a minister who does not know what he is talking about or cannot count on to help us overcome inflation and rising prices?” Lim asked. 

He also said no aid has been given to the M40 and small and medium sized businesses that have had to contend with severe labour shortages, on top of an increase in the producer price index. 

“The prime minister can help to mitigate rising costs by resolving the labour shortages of foreign workers at the stroke of his pen but has again refused to take charge.” 

Beginning July 1, subsidies for cooking oil except for 1kg poly bags will be scrapped. The government’s plan to initially float chicken prices was met with severe backlash, leading to a u-turn on the decision.

A new ceiling price has been set for chicken capped at RM9.40 per kg, which will take effect tomorrow. This is an increase of RM0.50 from the current price of RM8.90 per kg. 

Chicken eggs in the peninsula will also have a new ceiling price, where Grade A eggs will be priced at RM0.45 each, Grade B at RM0.43 each and Grade C at RM0.41 each. – June 30, 2022.