If cost of food goes up, help reduce the cost, Ismail Sabri tells the government


KUALA LUMPUR: If prices of raw ingredients are high, the government must find a way to reduce the cost, to ensure that people have access to affordable food, instead of making statements which are not helpful, says Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

The former prime minister was alluding to Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli’s remarks on Jan 21, that consumers should be more proactive in their response to changes in the prices of goods by avoiding restaurants and other food outlets that offer food and beverages at unreasonable prices.

"I read media reports which said that if prices of food increase then boycott the restaurant," he said when met at the sidelines of MCA’s Open House at Wisma MCA here on Sunday (Jan 22).

"Such statements will not help the people. We will only burden businesses and restaurants if prices of raw ingredients such as fish, chicken increase, of course restaurants will increase the price," he said.

We should think of this and not just make easy statements and punish businesses," he added.

On another note, he also called on the people to continue to press for another round of Employee Provident Fund (EPF) withdrawals.

"While I was having dinner after exercise yesterday, an aunty came asking if it is possible for them to have another round of EPf withdrawals," he said, adding that he had received several calls concerning EPF withdrawals when he was at the office.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said on Jan 16, that the government would have to consider the plight and the future of EPF contributors before they were allowed another round of special withdrawals as many have little savings left for their future.

An NGO,known as Pertubuhan Aktivis Rakyat Malaysia (ProRakyat) recently urged the government to consider another round of EPF withdrawals of up to RM30,000.

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