THE government’s Jihad Against Inflation Task Force is focused on keeping the country’s inflation level and food prices low, said its chairman Annuar Musa.

The communications and multimedia minister said the task force took note that the country’s inflation had increased by 3.4% in June.

“There is an upward trend (in inflation) and what’s important is that our special task force will continue to monitor the situation so that there will be no uncontrolled increase in inflation.

“It means that the government will not let (inflation) rise. Our task now is to ensure that (the inflation rate) is at 3% and inflation for food items is around 5-6%,” he told reporters after attending the Keluarga Malaysia sales auction programme in conjunction with the Kelantan Keluarga Malaysia Aspirations (AKM) Tour at the Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium in Kota Baru today.

Annuar also gave his assurance that the special task force would make continuous efforts by implementing some drastic measures regarding inflation and it will be announced from time to time.

The minister said that engagement sessions with relevant parties needed to be held before any decision was made by the government in dealing with the rise in the inflation rate.

According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia , Malaysia’s Consumer Price Index  increased by 3.4% year-on-year to 127.4 in June 2022 from 123.2 in June 2021, surpassing the average inflation rate in Malaysia for the January 2011-June 2022 period by 1.9%.

Chief Statistician Mohd Uzir Mahidin said food inflation increased by 6.1% and remained the main contributor to the rise in inflation during the month.

Meanwhile, Annuar said the data on the increase in inflation would be used as an indication that the establishment of the special task force was relevant now and even in the future. – Bernama, July 24 2022.