This year’s Hari Raya may be the toughest yet, says Muhyiddin

 

Former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, seen here with wife Noorainee Abdul Rahman, says the rising cost of living may affect preparations for this year’s Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations.

PETALING JAYA: Former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin says Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations this year may be the “most challenging” for Malaysians due to the increasing cost of living.

“With the continuous rise in the cost of living over the past year, especially in the prices of goods, cost of services, electricity tariffs, and several types of taxes, the festive preparations have undoubtedly been affected to some extent,” he said.

“I understand this situation very well and pray that you and your family remain patient and resilient in facing this test,” the Perikatan Nasional chairman said in a Facebook post where he also extended festive greetings.

The increase in the service tax from 6% to 8% on March 1 has faced significant opposition not only from Muhyiddin but also from various sectors as they feared that it would affect the overall supply chain.

Muhyiddin had said this would cause most goods to become expensive and place a burden on the people.

The government is also planning to implement additional taxes, such as the capital gains tax and high-value goods tax, as part of efforts to bolster the country’s revenue.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim assured that the government was actively addressing concerns about the cost of living by targeting cartels to reduce prices of imported rice and implementing other measures.

In the 2024 budget, the government announced an increase in the allocation of cash assistance through Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah from RM8 billion to RM10 billion.

As of January, the inflation rate stands at 1.5%, according to the statistics department. - FMT