THE government cannot expect different results if its task force to tackle the rising cost of living comprises the same ministers who have not addressed the issue in their respective portfolios, Puteri Umno executive council member Dr Masliha Harun said today. 

The government is essentially doing the same thing repeatedly but expecting a different outcome, which is futile, she told a forum for Umno women. 

At the Wacana Aspirasi Umno forum today, Masliha said these ministers should instead use their power and position to better the situation, such as finding ways to control inflation and the prices of goods. 

She was referring to the formation of the Jihad Against Inflation task force headed by Communications and Multimedia Annuar Musa, who said the task force would launch a sales campaign on a large scale as one of the ways to tackle the rising cost of living. 

“If the minister can’t use his power and instead launches campaigns like this, we are better off asking non-governmental organisations to handle it,” Masliha said.

“It is like we are asking an eye doctor to do heart surgery.”

The cabinet on June 29 agreed to form the special task force.

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said its main role is to gather all information from ministries, agencies and the public, and to formulate strategies and coordinate actions to resolve issues relating to inflation, especially in controlling price hikes more efficiently and effectively.

Apart from Annuar, the task force has five other members – 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.

Masliha also called on Putrajaya to hold elections immediately, saying political instability is affecting the country economically. 

“Yesterday, the prime minister said we should not point fingers as it weakens the Barisan Nasional government. Well, I beg to differ, this is not a BN government, this a hybrid government,” she said.

Ismail heads a government comprising BN and Perikatan Nasional with support from Sarawak and Sabah parties.

“If there is no stability, how do we achieve prosperity? Young people want high salaries and affordable prices of goods. They want the country to be harmonious, but how?” she said.

“We have to face it. Our economy and currency are weak, and this is all because of political instability.’

Pengerang MP Azalina Othman Said, who is also the prime minister’s special adviser on law and human rights, and was present at the forum, also highlighted the need for stability.

The former deputy speaker of the Dewan Rakyat said the country will not be able to move forward and implement reforms if it does not have stability, although she did not specify what sort of stability is needed. 

“The anti-sexual harassment bill, for example, it has been years and so much money has been wasted, yet it still hasn’t been legislated,” she said in highlighting one of the reforms that has been on the cards but which remains unfulfilled.

She also pressured those in ministerial positions to step up and use their power to help tackle the rising cost of living. 

Prices of goods have jumped in Malaysia in recent months due to supply chain disruptions, labour shortages and the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Food inflation rose 5.2% from a year earlier in May, the highest since November 2011. – July 3, 2022.