13MP to tackle cost of living, strengthen food supply chain - Armizan

Borneo Post

5 days ago

Armizan seated fourth from right with invited guests and participants of the seminar.
PENAMPANG (Aug 3): The 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) will continue the MADANI Government's mission to improve public well-being, with a focus on addressing the rising cost of living and strengthening the national food supply chain over the next five years.
Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, said 13MP — covering 2026 to 2030 — serves as a medium-term development plan and strategic extension of the MADANI Economic Framework.
'This plan has been carefully crafted to encompass all key dimensions — economic sustainability, people's well-being, environmental conservation and good governance,' he told reporters after officiating the Seminar Kenegaraan Malaysia MADANI Pesara Guru (Rancakkan MADANI Sabah) here on Sunday.
Armizan said one of the three main pillars of 13MP is 'Raising the Floor', which focuses heavily on cost of living issues.
He noted that the cost of living is a global challenge worsened by geopolitical tensions, climate change and disruptions in food supply and security.
The MADANI Government, he said, is addressing the issue through two strategic frameworks: Managing price stability and inflation; and Enhancing people's ability to sustain livelihoods through income growth and targeted assistance.
'To stabilise prices, we must address market supply and demand — including curbing market manipulation and promoting healthy competition, especially for essential goods,' he said.
As part of 13MP, the government will also strengthen the national food supply chain by upgrading infrastructure, empowering the retail sector, ensuring price transparency, and tightening enforcement.
Marketing infrastructure will be improved in areas such as collection, processing, packaging and distribution — supported by logistics and digital services in partnership with the private sector.
'Small and medium-scale retailers will be empowered to participate in the agro-food marketing hubs that will be introduced,' said Armizan.
To ensure transparency, the government is also developing a Price and Supply Repository System, which will provide data to combat price manipulation and profiteering — including among middlemen.
This system, he said, will support enforcement efforts under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 and the Competition Act 2010.
Its development will involve collaboration between multiple ministries and industry players to ensure an integrated, effective approach, he added.