Other ministries must also answer over rising food prices, says Anwar

 

The rise in essential food prices, including vegetables, is an issue that requires immediate action from the relevant ministers, says Anwar Ibrahim.

KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has called for several other ministries to answer questions on the rising prices of food, describing it as an issue that requires immediate action from the relevant ministers.

Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Mohd Rashid Hasnon.

Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Mohd Rashid Hasnon had earlier this week accepted a special motion from Salahuddin Ayub (PH-Pulai) for the issue to be debated, instructing for the matter to be brought up in the Special Chambers.

However, the motion had only mentioned the domestic trade and consumer affairs ministry, according to Rashid.

Anwar (PH-Port Dickson) today, asked him to review the decision and allow the matter to be debated in the lower house, or at least require the finance, agriculture and food industries, and economic affairs ministers to be present for the Special Chambers’ session.

Steven Sim (PH-Bukit Mertajam) said domestic trade and consumer affairs minister Alexander Nanta Linggi had on Tuesday said he could not answer certain queries by MPs as it was not under his purview but under other ministries.

Sim said failing to require the other ministries to answer questions about the matter would mean that Nanta would be forced to repeat his same answer on Tuesday.

Nanta agreed, saying he too felt that Salahuddin’s motion was slightly inaccurate since it did not mention the other ministries but only his.

“Maybe the motion should be extended (to other ministries).”

However, Rashid insisted on having the motion remain as it is, for it to be debated in the Special Chambers and be directed only at the domestic trade and consumer affairs ministry.

“I’ve made the final decision and I want to continue with our agenda for the day.”

This decision was met with protests by Anwar and other opposition MPs, with the former urging Rashid to be more caring about how Malaysians have been affected by the rise in food prices.

“I went to Shah Alam and Kampung Kerinchi and the people are getting desperate. They’re angry. That’s why we seek answers from the government.

“The domestic trade and consumer affairs minister can’t answer for other ministries. That is why we need a minimum of four ministries to be present,” the PKR president said.

However, Rashid refused to budge and moved on to the committee-level debate on the 2022 Supply Bill for the rural development ministry. - FMT