No price hikes for govt-controlled goods, cost of living minister says

Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Salahuddin Ayub has hit out at the opposition, accusing it of playing up the price hike issue ahead of next month's state elections.

Salahuddin, who is also Amanah deputy president, assured that there would be no increase in the price of goods as the government was constantly monitoring the prices of certain non-subsidised items.

"(The price of) items such as sugar and wheat flour will not go up because they are fully controlled by the government... but for other goods for which we don’t control the prices, it is up to the people to choose.

"The government is taking various measures to address the cost of living issue, but we cannot control people’s lifestyle costs. That’s what I want to emphasise. So far, the (prices) of basic necessities are all fully controlled by the government," he said after an event in Kuala Terengganu yesterday.

Salahuddin said the Payung Rahmah initiative, especially Jualan Rahmah and Menu Rahmah, which are aimed at helping the B40 and hardcore poor, gave people the option to make purchases within their means.