Don't dismiss consumers' worry over spending power, gov't told

Government officials should not be "insensitive" in dismissing concerns voiced by the rakyat over being burdened by the rising cost of items sold in supermarkets or hypermarkets, said Lim Guan Eng.

At a press conference today, the DAP secretary-general said that for instance, the price of cabbage from Cameron Highlands had gone up 29 percent in the last five years.

"These are the numbers that matter. When you look at Abdul Rahman Dahlan, he is talking about macro numbers, it doesn't matter.

“What matters are cooking items and essential items that you have to eat every day to survive," he said.

Lim was responding to the minister in the Prime Minister's Department who yesterday said that sales in hypermarket could not be viewed as a benchmark for the country's economy as its contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) was minimal.

Rahman was responding to a recent remark by Ameer Ali Mydin - the managing director of popular hypermarket chain Mydin - that the country's high GDP figure did not translate into more purchasing power for consumers.

According to Lim, the numbers that count to the laymen are the items of daily usage and thus, the government should not be like an "ostrich with its head in the sand".

"For those who can buy designer bags and rings, no problem. But what about those who frequent hypermarkets? Why is the government so insensitive?" asked Lim who is also Penang chief minister. -Mkini