PETALING JAYA: Having come under fire from netizens over a monthly RM391 grocery bill for a family of four, Community Communications Department (J-KOM) director-general Datuk Dr Mohammad Agus Yusoff admitted that there were failings on his part which led to such criticism.
However, he stands by the data on the infographics that J-KOM had published, while admitting both the title of the infographics on the monthly grocery bill and the accompanying explanations were confusing.
An infographic chart titled “Is it true the grocery bill has risen from RM200 to RM500 a month?” was put out by J-KOM yesterday (July 12).
Netizens questioned the logic of such a grocery bill which stated that a family of four earning a minimum monthly income of RM1,500 would only spend RM391 monthly for their groceries.
The groceries included two chickens (RM37.60), two sacks of 10kg rice (RM38 each), one bottle of 1kg cooking oil at RM6.90, a tray of 30 eggs at RM14, one loaf of Gardenia bread at RM3 and a 10kg gas tank at RM19.
For a single person earning a minimum pay of RM1,500, the bill would come to RM228 per month - one chicken (RM18.80), one sack of 10kg rice (RM38), two bottles of 1kg cooking oil at RM13.80 each, a tray of 30 eggs at RM14, two loaves of Jumbo Gardenia bread at RM8.60 and a 10kg gas tank at RM19.
(In recent days, a report by a Malay daily stated that the people have complained that their grocery bills have increased from RM200 to RM500 as prices of food items such as rice, vegetables and fish have increased. The article has since been removed from the daily’s portal.)
Agus said that it was illogical for anyone to think that those items alone would suffice as the whole grocery list of any family of four.
He explained that the total of RM391 was only to cover the essential items of a family of four and not the whole grocery list.
"What J-KOM intended to do was to debunk the allegations by certain quarters that grocery bills will rise from RM200 to RM500," said Agus.
He said that the items listed in the JKOM infographics were only essential grocery items which are either subsidised or in the price control list, not everything that a whole family would purchase monthly.
“As the director-general, I take the blame for our shortcomings of not explaining clearly when putting out the infographics.
“I admit the title of the infographics could have been better worded and the explanation we put out could have been clearer. But I stand by the data that we have out as my team had cross-checked everything at the super marts such as Speed 99 and even used the PriceCatcher app of the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry.
“In a grocery list, there are always the essential items and the wish items. Our infographic is only on essential items. I am not saying a family eats only two chickens per month. There would also be the need to buy toothpaste, vegetables and fruits and as such.
“We were debunking the allegations by the opposition who went around saying that the prices of essential items - controlled, subsidised and not controlled - have all risen and the grocery bills of the people would rise from RM200 to RM500. This is a lie which they did not back up with facts and data, but using sentiments and emotions,” said Agus.
“The netizens who attacked the infographic too fell into the trap of being sentimental and emotional but not checking the data.
“I stand by the data that acquiring all those items would cost that much as stated in the infographic.
Yes, the title was not accurate and the explanation by us could have been much better, but the data we put out are facts and the truth. There has been no increase in prices of essential items under the Unity Government. This is what I endeavoured to do.
“We know that the issue of cost of living is a very sensitive one for the people, no matter which political party you support. As J-KOM, we do our duty in informing the government that this issue needs to be addressed and this is why we felt the need to come out with the infographics.
“We also realise that allegations of increase in cost of living, especially essential food items, would cause panic among the people and we needed to stop these myths and lies,” said Agus, who said that he hoped people would look at the data and understand that the government is doing its best to keep the cost of living under control.
