Prices of everyday foods have almost doubled in 13 years, says Stats Dept
KUALA LUMPUR: Prices of roti canai, nasi lemak and satay – some of Malaysia's fave foods – have almost doubled in price over the past 13 years, according to the Statistics Department.
Its report "Analysis of Annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) 2024", showed that the price of roti canai rose by 71.1%, from an average of 90 sen per piece in 2011 to RM1.54 in 2024, while nasi lemak increased by 81.3% from RM2.03 to RM3.68 per plate.
Chicken satay has more than doubled in price, soaring 113.7% from 51 sen per stick to RM1.09.
Among others, the report indicated that big onions imported from India also saw a significant increase of 139.4%, with prices climbing from RM2.89 to RM6.92 per kilogramme over the same period.
For everyday essentials included in the analysis, fresh coconut milk rose from RM7.39 to RM11.54 per kilogramme and grated coconut increased from RM5.18 to RM8.33 per kilogramme.
Meanwhile, local beef prices in the meat category almost doubled from RM19.05 to RM37.84 per kilogramme between 2011 and 2024.
The steepest increase, however, was seen in cockles, which surged by 400.3%, from RM3.04 to RM15.21 per kilogramme.
Earlier on Tuesday (April 29), the department reported that Malaysia's inflation rose at a slower pace of 1.8% in 2024 compared with 2.5% in 2023, with the index points standing at 132.8 in 2024 versus 130.4 in the previous year.
It said the country's inflation is in line with the global inflation rate of 5.7% in 2024, slower that the 6.6% recorded in 2023, citing the International Monetary Fund's World Economic Outlook Database, April 2025. – Bernama
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Experts: Renewable energy on track but lack efficiency
Two-in-one: Solar panels are placed on the roofs of the outdoor car park of a shopping mall in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, to fully utilise the space and generate green energy. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star PETALING JAYA: Malaysia is making strides in renewable energy under the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), but experts say the country is lagging in other critical areas. The NETR, launched in July 2023, is a plan to shift Malaysia to a low-carbon economy by 2050, focusing on six key areas: energy efficiency, renewable energy, hydrogen, bioenergy, green mobility and carbon capture. According to Association of Water and Energy Research president Piarapakaran Subramaniam, the country has already surpassed its 2025 renewable energy target, with renewables making up over 31% of installed capacity. However, solar only produces energy for four to six hours a day. This intermittency means Malaysia still relies on fossil fuels to keep the grid stable, adding to electricity costs. Piarapakaran said energy efficiency should be a top priority. 'If we reduce energy usage while maintaining or even increasing output, we will save billions,' he said. He criticised the lack of progress in this area, particularly in the construction and transportation sectors, and urged the government to reevaluate the NETR with a more holistic and long-term approach. International Islamic University Malaysia associate professor Dr Wan Mohd Zulhafiz Wan Zahari, whose area of research includes climate change policies and energy law, sees the NETR as a shift from planning to action. CLICK TO ENLARGE He pointed to new policies and large-scale projects as evidence of progress but warned that issues with infrastructure and market rules could slow things down. 'The next big challenge is keeping the pace high enough to meet rising demand from AI, data centres and industry,' he said. He highlighted the Corporate Renewable Energy Supply Scheme, which allows companies to buy renewable energy directly from producers, as a positive step but cautioned that grid congestion and slow approvals could hinder its success. Several companies are actively involved in renewable energy production in Malaysia, including Tenaga Nasional Bhd, Solarvest Holdings Bhd and TNB Renewables Sdn Bhd. These companies, among others, are driving the growth of solar, hydropower, biomass and other renewable energy sources. Former National Water Services Commission (SPAN) chairman Charles Santiago said that despite gains in solar and electric vehicles, Malaysia is still too dependent on fossil fuels. He noted that the country's renewable energy share of installed capacity, at 26% in 2024, is still 5% below its target. While hydro accounts for most of this, wind and solar combined make up only 2%, well below the global average of 15%. Santiago is also concerned that the focus on natural gas and carbon capture as a 'transitional fuel' will lock in high emissions and derail climate targets. He advocates shifting focus to proven and affordable renewables. Sahabat Alam Malaysia president Meenakshi Raman called for environmental and climate concerns to be at the heart of energy policies. She warned that the rapid growth of data centres could lead to a massive increase in energy and water consumption. She also emphasised the need for urgent grid upgrades and more battery storage to handle the increasing amount of variable renewable energy like solar. Malaysia's current grid, built for centralised coal and gas plants, struggles with the intermittent nature of solar and wind, leading to stability issues.
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Powering change and driving down costs
Smart initiative: Rooftop solar panels doubling as shaded parking, generating clean energy while keeping cars cool at a mall in Cheras. — YAP CHEE HONG/The Star PETALING JAYA: The transition to solar energy is gaining momentum in Malaysia, driven by the dual goal of reducing electricity costs and meeting green energy targets. The decreasing cost of solar panels has made this switch more appealing to both residential and commercial consumers. The primary reason for adopting solar is the significant increase in electricity tariffs for medium and high-voltage users, said Solar service provider AQ Energy (Max Bell Sdn Bhd) director Lum Chean Jeeng. He said consumers are looking for ways to combat rising costs. Lum points to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors as a key driver, especially for companies dealing with European partners who require sustainability reporting. While the initial investment for a solar PV system can be substantial, the return on investment is typically between two and five years, depending on the system's size and upfront cost. Financing is often a challenge for many Malaysians, so solar providers are offering various schemes to make it more accessible. Businesses with high electricity consumption, such as factories and cold storage facilities, are among the most enthusiastic adopters of solar technology. According Agro Voltec Enterprise director Sri Suthesh, a major challenge has been the high cost of the initial deposit, but companies view it as a worthwhile long-term investment. A new challenge for households and government buildings is the recent expiration of the Net Energy Metering (NEM) 3.0 scheme on June 30. This scheme allowed consumers to fully offset their electricity consumption by exporting excess solar energy to the grid. On Aug 6, Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry deputy secretary general (energy) Mareena Mahpudz said the government is still finalising a replacement for the NEM 3.0 scheme, which might be a hybrid between the NEM and self-consumption (SelCo), or even a new programme altogether. Federation of Malaysian Business Associations vice-chairman Nivas Ragavan said there had been a gradual increase in solar adoption among members, particularly in the manufacturing, logistics and hospitality sectors. However, less than 10% currently use solar. While recent tariff adjustments have sparked more interest, many are still in the planning stages. Businesses that have adopted the NEM scheme reported bill reductions of 20% to 40%. The main obstacles are still high initial costs, long payback periods, and a lack of awareness and financing options. The NEM scheme, first introduced in 2016, was designed to encourage the use of renewable energy. Under this programme, solar-generated electricity is used first, and any excess is sold back to Tenaga Nasional Bhd at the prevailing cost. The NEM 3.0 programme, which ran until June 30, offered additional quotas to further boost solar adoption.
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Najib betrayed public's trust, court told
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here was told that former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak betrayed the public's trust by misusing RM42mil from SRC International Sdn Bhd, funds that were meant to benefit Malaysia's energy future and civil service pensioners. Counsel Kwan Will Sen, representing SRC International and its subsidiary, Gandingan Mentari Sdn Bhd, in a civil suit against Najib, said it has been 10 years since the money ended up in Najib's personal accounts and now, the two companies want it returned. Kwan made these remarks while delivering the opening statement on the first day of the trial in the civil suit filed by SRC International and Gandingan Mentari against Najib, who is the sole defendant. 'Three courts, namely the High Court, Court of Appeal and Federal Court, have already found him criminally guilty of these very acts beyond a reasonable doubt. 'Najib was the finance minister at the time and had full control over SRC International. He held key positions, including that of adviser emeritus. 'As such, no significant transaction occurred without his knowledge or consent,' he said yesterday, Bernama reported. Kwan added that evidence will show the RM42mil was transferred from SRC International and ultimately ended up in Najib's personal bank accounts. Of this sum, RM32mil was immediately transferred to two companies that had previously covered shortfalls in Najib's accounts. 'These transfers were made pursuant to instruction letters bearing his personal signature. 'The remaining RM10mil was spent through personal cheques issued by Najib himself. 'We say that the money trail is clear, the documentary evidence is overwhelming, and Najib's own sworn admissions are damning. 'We will prove our case under three complementary causes of action: knowing receipt, dishonest assistance and misfeasance in public office. 'On any of these grounds, justice demands that these public funds be returned to their rightful owners, the Malaysian people,' Kwan said. The court also heard testimony from the first witness, former chief executive officer of Yayasan Rakyat 1Malaysia, Ung Su Ling, 57, whose appointment was approved by Najib. The hearing before Justice Raja Ahmad Mohzanuddin Shah Raja Mohzan is set to continue on Nov 6. The lawsuit, filed in May 2022, accuses Najib of breach of fiduciary duties, knowing receipt of funds, dishonest assistance, tort of misfeasance in public office, and abuse of power in relation to the misappropriation of SRC International funds.
