KUALA LUMPUR (June 30): The newly-formed Special Task Force on Jihad Against Inflation shows that the government is committed to tackling the pressing issue affecting the community and is not detached from the public as alleged by certain quarters. 

Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) president-designate Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin said the party welcomes Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s announcement of the matter and urged the task force to step up enforcement to curb profiteering by unscrupulous traders.

“We have received feedback that some traders were jacking up prices, in some cases beyond the ceiling prices set by the government. The government must be seen to be cracking down on these errant businesses and throw the book at them,” Zuraida said in a statement on Thursday (June 30).

She said PBM is optimistic that the multi-ministerial effort can help contain inflation to a manageable rate and asked Malaysians to realise that the rising prices of goods and services are mainly due to external factors, such as the war in Ukraine, supply chain disruptions and uncertain global weather conditions. 

The plantation industries and commodities minister pointed out that compared to other countries, including developed ones, Malaysia had a track record of keeping the lid on inflationary pressure.

“For example, the UK recently announced that its inflation rate was at 9.1%, the highest in 40 years. In the US, it was 8.6%, also another four-decade high, while in Malaysia, the inflation rate in May was at 2.8% as announced by the Department of Statistics Malaysia recently,” she said.

Zuraida said the government should also be commended for setting the ceiling price for chicken at RM9.40 per kg as this will enable Malaysians to purchase the food item at a more affordable price.

On Wednesday, Ismail Sabri announced that the Cabinet had agreed to form the Special Task Force on Jihad Against Inflation to help Malaysian families face the rising cost of living.