BN sales programme proof of govt's failure to control inflation, says Penang CM

Muzliza Mustafa Muzliza Mustafa Updated 8 years ago · Published on 25 Mar 2018 7:06PM · 2 Comments

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng speaking during a press conference at Komtar in George Town on Friday. He says what Malaysians need is for the price of goods to be maintained. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, March 25, 2018.

THE Barisan Nasional programme offering sales on essential items is proof of the government’s failure to manage the country’s economy and control inflation, said Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng today.

He said what the people need is for the price of goods to be maintained.

“If you go to the market now, everyone is complaining about the price of goods. If you spend RM50, you can no longer buy as many items (as before).

“So, what is the point of BN carrying out the sales (programme) every fortnight, or once a month? What we want is (low prices) not just once a month, but daily.”

He said the programme is an attempt by BN to show it is compassionate, but the fact is, the federal government has failed Malaysians.

“They have failed to control prices. That’s why they carry out (the programme), and that, too, only once a month. If the government really wants to help, they have to make sure that the price of goods is maintained.”

The DAP secretary-general said the only way to maintain prices is by abolishing the goods and services tax.

“Without abolishing GST, the price of goods will keep increasing. (BN’s sales programme) is just to get public attention, and to blindside the people.”

The Jualan Sentuhan Rakyat programme, carried out nationwide, is the government’s short-term plan to help reduce the burden on Malaysians in light of the rising cost of living.

The programme, which offers basic items at below-market prices, has been well-received.

The 1Malaysia People’s Aid is another form of government assistance, given to low-income earners.

Seven million people are eligible for the aid, with each getting RM1,200 this year – a big increase from the RM500 given when the programme was introduced in 2012. – March 25, 2018.

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Comments

  • I dont need evidence as to the governments failure. I just have to look at my bank account for evidence of the government's failures. What i need evidence for is of the opposition's success. What i don't see so far is the evidence of the oppositions success. s life better in penang or selangor? Are people in penang and selangor celebrating their lives ? When people in selangor or penang look at people in perak or negeri sembilan, are they thinking "oh pity those people" or are they thinking "here or there what is the difference. Some only what "?


    I don't need stories about how as a state government, the oppositions hands are tied, and only if they take putrajaya, will they be truly able to do something for the people. The fellas who say that now they cannot do anything but once when they become somebody then surely they will do a lot of things are a dime a dozen and they are are almost always good for nothings.

    If the opposition keeps telling stories about how now it cannot do anything, but once it gets putrajaya it will surely do something, i just think that after these fellas get putrajaya, all they are going to do is start a new story, about how being just being the national government, their hands are tied, and only if washington and beijing changes will they be able to do something for the people here.

    I personally know only two things that the opposition has done in selangor. 1) water is free and 2) plastic bag is no longer given at places like tesco or kk mar for your groceries for free. After 10 years of being the state government, that i can only remember the opposition for these two achievements is a sad thing indeed. But maybe my memory is poor and maybe i don't go out much. Maybe the opposition should refresh my memory and remind me of all the things that it has done to make lives better for all of us in selangor and in penang in the last 10 years that it had the chance to do so.I really don't need the opposition to tell me why the government sucks. I can figure that out myself, thank you very much. What i need to figure out is why is the opposition such a great idea. If the opposition can help on this account, i, and many other people, would appreciate it very much.

    Posted 8 years ago by Nehru Sathiamoorthy · Reply

  • Selangor also has a free bus service it has been gradually extending which I sometimes use to get to LRT station Bandar Kinrara, & another one goes to Sunway Pyramid, then to SS18 LRT, and there are others. Penang also I understand has something similar in the pipeline? S'gor now helps single mothers with a welcome monthly allowance under its recently launched KISS programme, but so far no allowances for senior citizens unlike Penang. S'gor has the Peduli Sihat medical card to encourage a 6-monthly free medical check up, etc, to help control burgeoning lifestyle diseases like obesity etc. Obviously progress comes slowly as state govts do not have deep pockets like Putrajaya, which will probably retain the above and other benefits if they manage a takeover of Selangor in GE14..

    Posted 8 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply