High-level committee to tackle cost of living, says Zahid

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi says there will be a high-level committee to look into views from non-governmental organisations on cost of living issues. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, December 28, 2015.

A high-level committee will be set up to look into views from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on cost of living issues, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today.

Zahid, who is also home minister, was reported as saying this by national news agency Bernama.

He said the committee would discuss at the preliminary level issues related to the cost of living before presenting them to the Special Cabinet Committee.

"I am inviting NGO leaders to meet and express their view regarding cost of living issues to the prime minister," he told a press conference in PWTC today.

Zahid added that he would be chairing the committee which includes six ministers and the secretary-generals of the ministries involved.

The ministers are Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin (Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism), Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed (International Trade and Industry), Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid (Education), Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh (Higher Education), Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah (Second Finance Minister) and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar.

Many have blamed the rising cost of living on the recently introduced goods and services tax (GST) while other point at the falling oil prices and ringgit rates against the US dollar.

Some also attribute it to the recent string of price hikes including toll rates in the Klang Valley going up between 10 sen and RM6.

When The Malaysian Insider spoke to some petty food traders a couple of days ago, they said they might not be able to absorb much of the cost any longer and warned regular customers of the impending price hikes.

School bus fares are also expected to increase while parents are complaining about doling out more for school supplies.

- TMI