COMMUNITY Communications Department (J-Kom) director-general Mohammad Agus Yusoff is standing by the data that was released yesterday on the average grocery bill of Malaysians, The Star reports.

The infographic showing that a household of family need spend only RM391 on groceries a month was met with widespread ridicule.

Agus today said the data was correct but acknowledged that the title of the infographic on the monthly grocery bill and the accompanying explanation were confusing.

“What J-Kom intended to do was to debunk the allegations by certain quarters that grocery bills will go up from RM200 to RM500 (a month),” said Agus.

“As the director-general, I take the blame not explaining clearly when putting out the infographic.

“I admit the title of the infographics could have been better worded and the explanation we put out could have been clearer. But I stand by the data that we have out as my team had cross-checked everything at the super markets, such as Speed 99, and using the PriceCatcher app of the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry.”

The J-Kom infographic broke down the groceries into two chickens (RM37.60), two 10kg bags of rice (RM76), two 1kg bottles of cooking oil (RM13.80) 30 eggs (RM14), two loaves of Gardenia bread (RM6) and a 10kg tank of gas (RM19).

Agus said it was illogical for anyone to think that those items alone would suffice for a household of four.

“In a grocery list, there are always the essential items and the wish items. Our infographic is only for essential items. I am not saying a family eats only two chickens per month. There would also be the need to buy toothpaste, vegetables and fruits and as such.

“We were debunking the allegations by the opposition that the prices of essential items – controlled, subsidised and not controlled – have all risen and that the grocery bills would rise from RM200 to RM500. This is a lie which they did not back up with facts and data, but with sentiment and emotions.

“What J-Kom intended to do was to debunk the allegations by certain quarters that grocery bills will rise from RM200 to RM500.

“The people who attacked the infographic too fell into the trap of being sentimental and emotional but not checking the data.

“I stand by the data that acquiring all those items would cost that much as stated in the infographic.

“Yes, the title was not accurate and the explanation by us could have been much better, but the data we put out are facts and the truth. There has been no increase in the prices of essential items under the unity government.” – July 13, 2023.