SSR says won't hesitate to organise rally again if govt doesn't take urgent measures to lower goods prices

 

In a statement issued today, it said the government has failed to immediately address the issue of the hike in the prices of goods. - Bernama pic

KUALA LUMPUR: Sekretariat Solidariti Rakyat (SSR) will not hesitate to mobilise the people again for a rally if the government fails to address the current increase in the prices of goods.

In a statement issued today, it said the government has failed to immediately address the issue of the hike in the prices of goods.

"We urge the government led by (Prime Minister) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to take urgent measures to save the people by lowering the price of food items.

"SSR would not hesitate to once again mobilise the people and take to the streets as a manifestation of our freedom of expression in parallel with the basic principles of democracy.

"People have lost their jobs and the Covid-19 pandemic is still active and yet politicians are busy distributing properties and creating positions among themselves," it said in the statement.

SSR is a movement famously known for its black flag symbol. It has previously held three protests in the country in July and August against the government's management of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In July, SSR through the #Lawan rally, it had gathered more than 2,000 protesters in Dataran Merdeka.

The rally was held to demand the resignation of then prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and the reopening of Parliament, and called for financial assistance such as the continuation of loan moratoriums to ease the people's financial burdens caused by Covid-19 movement controls.

Recent unhappiness expressed by people due to the hike in prices of items such as chicken, eggs and vegetables, had almost led to a rally allegedly organised by a separate group.

The event, which some people claimed was supposed to have been held on Friday, did not materialise. People who were disgruntled over the price hike matter, however, continued to express their views online.

The government has explained that the increase in the prices of goods was due to certain factors.

On Nov 25, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said price increases in daily necessities such as eggs, chickens and vegetables was due to higher operational costs in the supply chain which is hoped to be solved in one or two weeks.

On Dec 1, Ismail Sabri said the increase in prices of essential goods was due to accumulated costs at various levels of the supply chain before they reached the traders.

Ismail Sabri had also said among measures taken to address the ballooning price of chicken was to import frozen chicken to enable the people to obtain chicken at lower prices.

The Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry would also temporarily stop fish exports to ensure fish is easily available at reasonable prices in the local market. - NST