Kuala Lumpur: The government remains committed to addressing cost of living pressures through sustained intervention measures, including price stabilisation and efforts to boost household income, said Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.
He said the concerns raised by several Members of Parliament ranged from general anxieties over rising expenses to specific matters under the purview of KPDN and other agencies.
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He said the government takes seriously issues such as income levels that are insufficient to meet living costs, rising prices of food, housing and education, as well as the broader social security implications stemming from economic pressures.
“KPDN welcomes calls for a more comprehensive approach in addressing cost of living challenges.
“While key economic indicators – includeng inflation rates, findings from the Household Income and Expenditure Survey, and the Gini coefficient – showed positive trends, the government would continue its intervention and mitigation measures to help the rakyat cope.
“This is implemented through a two-pronged approach: ensuring price stability of essential goods and services, and increasing disposable income among the people,” he said.
Armizan who is also Papar Member of Parliament said this during his winding-up speech on the Motion of Thanks for the Royal Address at Dewan Negara on Tuesday.
He said measures to stabilise prices include strict monitoring of supply chains and enforcement actions to maintain a fair, transparent and competitive market ecosystem, as well as targeted interventions to improve public access to daily necessities.
At the same time, he said the government is implementing various policies and programmes aimed at stimulating income growth, including creating job opportunities, raising the minimum wage, introducing a progressive wage policy, empowering entrepreneurship, and providing targeted cash assistance, among others.
Armizan said cost of living issues are being coordinated through the National Action Council on Cost of Living (NACCOL), which adopts a whole-of-government approach involving multiple ministries.
He said the council addresses key clusters such as food, health, education, housing, transport, income and utilities, and the agenda would be further strengthened through a whole-of-nation approach involving the private sector and other stakeholders.
Under the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13), Armizan added, these efforts would be reinforced through a Strategy to Strengthen Cost of Living Management, supported by the National Cost of Living Action Plan 2026-2030, which is expected to be finalised in the second quarter of this year.
