KUALA LUMPUR JUNE 6: The government has taken a cautious approach on the global development specifically on the supply of food and the increase in the prices of food materials that could affect the happiness of the Malaysian Family.
Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said, the increase in the prices of food is due to the effects of the pandemic and currently the Russia-Ukraine conflict that has also affected Malaysia, Asia and the world.
Ismail said, the global supply network has been affected due to this phenomenon causing the price of food materials in the world to increase more than 30 per cent and Malaysia is not exempted.
To address this problem Ismail said, the government has announced several short term measures as follows:-.1) Immediately abolish the food import approval quota (AP) from overseas 2) To stop the exports of chicken 3) To introduce direct financial aid to the people especially the B40 group effective 1st July 2022. 4) Formation of Agrofood Fund with an allocation of RM500 million via easy loan to the agro food industry players 5) Formation of buffer stock for chicken, meat and fish to ensure sufficient supply of food.
“The five short term measures have been taken to protect the whole of Malaysian Family from the increase in the prices of food products besides various subsidies expected to reach RM71 billion this year,” Ismail said in his speech in conjunction with the official birthday celebration of His Majesty Yang di-PertuanAgong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta’in Billah at Istana Negara here today.
Prime Minister Ismail added, to ensure that no one in the Malaysian Family is left from the national development; the government has always improved the social protection programme agenda in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.
Ismail stressed that the government has implemented the first phase of the Elimination of Hard Core Poor of Malaysian Family in May 2022 involving 80 localities in the towns and rural areas including the Orang Asli villages. This programme is to take them out from the poverty cluster.
“The lives of the poor and the low income groups have always been defended to enable them to live comfortably,” Ismail added.
The Prime Minister also mentioned that his visits to other countries recently have proven the good cooperation and strong diplomatic relationships between Malaysia and the foreign countries.
“Malaysia will continue to voice out our stand in protecting the interest and the national sovereignty besides relaying the world peaceful messages in the international platform,” Ismail reiterated.
Ismail also emphasized that the government will continue to work in the spirit of inclusiveness, togetherness and thankful for being in the Malaysian Family that crosses the political beliefs and ideologies for the sake of prosperity for all.
“All the challenges will be confronted collectively after entering into an agreement and putting aside the differences,” Ismail said. –Malaysia World News
