Focus on rising cost of living, Fomca urges govt

PETALING JAYA: The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (Fomca) CEO Paul Selvaraj said the biggest concern for Malaysian consumers currently is the increasing costs of living in an environment of stagnant incomes.
In an email response to Sunbiz recently, Selvaraj said the association is hoping that the government, through the upcoming Budget 2018, would address the issues related to the rising costs of living.
He suggested the government to bring down the price of food through greater investment in agriculture as well as freeing the market for all forms of market manipulations.
To recap, a sum of RM1.3 billion was allocated under Budget 2017 to increase food production at a competitive price, to develop agricultural infrastructure such as drainage and irrigation, farm roads and marketing of agricultural products.
Furthermore, Selvaraj said Fomca’s wishlists include affordable housing, higher investment in healthcare as healthcare costs have been shooting up and bigger investment in the bus system to ensure a connected and reliable public transport system.
Under the previous Budget, the government allocated RM25 billion on efforts to enhance health level of the rakyat and quality of healthcare in the country, which include to build and upgrade new hospitals and clinics.
As part of its efforts to ease the cost of living, the government also provided nearly RM10 billion for subsidy allocation, which comprises fuel subsidies including cooking gas, toll charges and public transport.
In addition, Selvaraj said the association hopes the government would provide greater assistance for low and middle income families on childcare, support for the low-income through a comprehensive safety net, as well as greater investment in consumers and financial education.
Among the incentives provided under the previous Budget for the vulnerable groups included the general assistance up to RM300 per month for poor families and children assistance up to RM450 per month, with an allocation of RM424 million provided to senior citizens.
Fomca is a national non-governmental organisation, and is the umbrella body for 13 consumer associations in Malaysia. Fomca links the activities of consumers’ associations and works together with the national and international levels towards strengthening consumer protection.