'Malaysians should be proud as prices of goods in Singapore 70pct higher'

PARLIAMENT | Malaysians should be proud because the prices of goods in Singapore are 70 percent higher compared to Malaysia, Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Hamzah Zainuddin said today.

He was responding to G Manivannan (PKR-Kapar), who had asked in the Dewan Rakyat about the government's commitment to control the prices of goods.

Hamzah pointed out that the government had already provided subsidies for basic goods such as rice, sugar, cooking oil, gas and flour.

"The government has controlled the prices of these things very well.

"I want to tell Yang Berhormat that this government is a government that knows how to defend the rakyat in the cost of living issue," Hamzah said.

Citing Singapore's gross domestic product (GDP) per capita at US$52,962 and Malaysia's at US$9,463, Hamzah said Malaysia was in the third place among Asean countries, behind Singapore and Brunei in relation to GDP per capita.

"In relation to the prices of goods, based on what the government has done, we should be proud because the prices of goods in Singapore are 70 percent higher than ours.

"Brunei is 71 percent higher while Thailand is 23 percent higher, even though its GDP per capita is US$6,000, while the prices of things in Indonesia are 43 percent higher, despite its GDP per capita at US$3,599."

Hamzah also cited the Philippines, saying the prices of goods there are purportedly 76 percent higher than in Malaysia, despite its GDP per capita being US$3,016, while Laos' GDP per capita is US$2,400 and there the prices of goods are 59 percent higher than Malaysia.

"This shows that our strategy to control the prices of goods to ensure that they are reasonable is a strategy that has worked," he said.

The prices of goods have been a cause of consternation among the public.

Last month, Ameer Ali Mydin - the managing director of popular hypermarket chain Mydin - said that the country's high GDP figure did not translate into more purchasing power for consumers, and the people were spending less on groceries. 

Last year, celebrity figures such as Sheila Majid caused a public stir, when she raised concerns about the prices of goods, which later became a talking point at the Umno general assembly. -Mkini