Latest news with #NACCOL
The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Egg prices steady after subsidy removal
Big and small: A shopkeeper showing AA (left) and E grade eggs at wholesale shop in Rawang. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star THE withdrawal of government subsidies for eggs and chicken has not disrupted supply or led to price increases. Deputy Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Fuziah Salleh said the decision to remove the egg subsidy with effect from Aug 1 has shown positive results. 'When the egg subsidy was removed, we found that there were no issues with supply or prices,' she said. Citing an earlier example, Fuziah said similar action was taken with chicken in November 2023, when subsidies were ended and the ceiling price of RM9.40 lifted. 'Before that, we struggled to control chicken prices, even with subsidies and price caps in place. Consumers still had to pay extra, such as for cutting charges. 'But after the subsidy was removed, we tightened monitoring across the supply chain – from production costs and raw materials to distribution and retail. 'We recorded chicken prices daily to ensure the move was working,' she said. As a result, she said that chicken prices have since stabilised, with some selling at lower prices than before. Fuziah said the ministry has the authority under various laws – including the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act, Supply Control Act and the Competition Act – to monitor and control supply and pricing at every level of the supply chain. She was responding to Dr Taufiq Johari (PH–Sungai Petani), who asked how the National Action Council on Cost of Living (NACCOL) ensured that government interventions truly benefited the people. 'We want to show that our policies are working and having real impact on the ground,' she said. The government officially discontinued the egg subsidy on Aug 1, after spending around RM2.5bil since February 2022 to support the industry. These subsidies were introduced in response to the global disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, which pushed up prices of essential feed ingredients like soybean and corn. The financial aid aimed to help local egg producers manage higher input costs, prevent supply shortages and shield consumers from drastic price hikes. Fuziah said following three NACCOL meetings this year, several cost of living intervention measures have been implemented including in the health sector, requiring all types of medicines sold or supplied in community pharmacies and private health facilities to have price markings from Aug 1. 'Based on the outcomes of NACCOL meetings and development of the Cost of Living and Decent Basic Living Expenditure Indicator this year, we have begun advocacy processes for the public. 'Additionally, RM25mil has been allocated to implement the Madani Agro Sales,' she added.
Malay Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
In Dewan Rakyat today: Cost of living, MLFF tolls and US tariffs take centre stage
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 6 — Government efforts to ease the cost of living, the implementation of the Multi Lane Free Flow (MLFF) toll system, and the issue of reciprocal tariffs imposed by the United States on Malaysia are among the key matters scheduled for discussion in the Dewan Rakyat sitting today. According to the Order Paper published on the Parliament's website, during the question-and-answer session, Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (PN-Bukit Gantang) will ask the Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living to state the measures taken by the National Action Council on Cost of Living (NACCOL) to help reduce the cost of living. Shaharizukirnain Abd Kadir (PN-Setiu) will pose a question to the Works Minister on the status of MLFF toll collection implementation, besides seeking clarification on improvements to systems such as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) to ensure the new system's effectiveness. Datuk Seri Dr Wee Jeck Seng (BN-Tanjung Piai) will raise a question to the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry regarding the status and effectiveness of negotiations between Malaysia and the United States on the implementation of reciprocal tariffs. He also asked for government assurances that the move would not adversely affect trade, supply chains or the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector in Malaysia. Yeo Bee Yin (PH-Puchong) will question the Minister of Youth and Sports on key improvements introduced by the ministry in the National Youth Consultative Council and the significant proposals made by youths, as well as the ministry's efforts in conveying these proposals to the government. Mohd Nazri Abu Hassan (PN-Merbok), meanwhile, will ask the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether the ministry had allocated special provisions to state governments or related agencies to manage solid waste and clean up illegal dumping sites outside the jurisdiction of local authorities. Following the question session, the Dewan Rakyat will resume the debate on the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), which was tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim last Thursday. The current Dewan Rakyat sitting takes place over 24 days until August 28. — Bernama
Focus Malaysia
06-06-2025
- Health
- Focus Malaysia
Delay on GP fee review: 'Face realities on the ground,' NACCOL told
A DOCTORS' group has expressed disappointment over the government's failure to to revise private general practitioners' (GP) consultation fees as promised. 'We note with deep disappointment that the Health Minister's promise to finalise the long-overdue review of private GP consultation fees within a month has now passed without action,' said Federation of Private Medical Practitioners' Associations, Malaysia (FPMPAM) president Dr Shanmuganthan TV Ganeson. 'Private GPs have been self-funding the essential primary care system for decades. Yet we remain shackled by consultation fees that have not changed in 33 years, while regulations and compliance costs continue to rise.' Recall that Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad told reporters on May 3 that the issue about GP consultation fees would be resolved 'within one month at the latest', adding that he had already prepared a Cabinet memorandum and circular. During Dzulkefly's May 3 press conference, the Health Minister claimed that the National Action Committee on the Cost of Living (NACCOL) had already agreed to a review of GP consultation fees. 'The Malaysian Medical Association and other GP bodies have presented a clear, evidence-based case for a fee update that ensures the sustainability of primary care clinics and the quality of care for our patients,' Dr Shanmuganathan said. 'We understand that NACCOL has raised concerns about the impact of the fee update. We want to remind NACCOL that these concerns are misplaced. 'Patients who visit GPs choose to do so for immediate, quality care—often to avoid hospital queues and costly specialist visits. They are willing to pay a fair fee for this timely service. 'Past analyses by NACCOL itself showed no significant impact on the Consumer Price Index, even with proposed fee updates as far back as 2019.' Moreover, Dr Shanmuganathan noted that third-party administrators have for too long suppressed GP consultation fees for corporate profit, while the Pharmaceutical Services Division, certain pharmacy groups, and even Pharma Corporations have lobbied to undermine the integrated GP clinic model that has served Malaysians well for over 60 years. 'The government must not hide behind a narrative that keeping GP fees artificially low somehow serves the public good,' he stressed. 'In reality, it threatens the survival of primary care—the most cost-effective part of our healthcare system—and shifts costs to patients in other ways. 'NACCOL must face these realities. It must not deny GPs the means to sustain their practices and continue serving communities effectively. 'We call on the Health Minister to honour his promise and on NACCOL to remove its obstacles and allow this long-overdue correction. Anything less is a disservice to GPs and the communities we care for daily.' ‒ June 6, 2025 Main image: The Straits Times
New Straits Times
05-06-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
NACCOL offers 100 subsidised sacrificial cows to Permatang Pauh residents
BUKIT MERTAJAM: The National Action Council on Cost of Living (NACCOL) has distributed 100 cows at half of the market price to ease the financial burden of Permatang Pauh constituents performing the sacrificial ritual in conjunction with Aidiladha this Saturday. Senior political secretary to the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, said NACCOL has taken the initiative to provide each cow weighing 220 kg or more. "Through this special programme, each cow is sold at RM2,800, with individual portions priced at RM399. For a start, it is being offered exclusively to the Permatang Pauh constituents, in line with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's intention to ensure that the underprivileged can perform the sacrificial rite. "Although Permatang Pauh is not the Prime Minister's parliamentary constituency, he feels a strong connection to this area. That is why he wants to help ease the burden of the people here and allow them to carry out the ritual at an affordable price," he told reporters after the ceremony to distribute the sacrificial cows at the Taman Arowana night market site today. Under the programme, 40 areas, including mosques and surau, as well as members of non-governmental organisations and staff of government agencies in the constituency, received the cows that they had purchased. Shamsul Iskandar noted that the initiative did not involve any government subsidies, as NACCOL purchased the cattle directly from farms in large quantities. He said the sacrificial cows were obtained through collaboration with the Johor State Farmers' Organisation and Johor Plantations Group, adding that the initiative will be expanded to other parliamentary constituencies next year. "For example, the congregation of Masjid Kubang Ulu in the Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency purchased 17 cows. The total would have reached RM95,000, but through this initiative, they only paid RM47,000, savings of nearly 50 per cent," he added. - BERNAMA
Barnama
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Barnama
100 Sacrificial Cows Sold At Affordable Price In Permatang Pauh
BUKIT MERTAJAM, June 5 (Bernama) -- The National Action Council on Cost of Living (NACCOL) has distributed 100 cows at half of the market price to ease the financial burden of Permatang Pauh constituents performing the sacrificial ritual in conjunction with Aidiladha this Saturday. Senior political secretary to the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, said NACCOL has taken the initiative to provide each cow weighing 220 kg or more. 'Through this special programme, each cow is sold at RM2,800, with individual portions priced at RM399. For a start, it is being offered exclusively to the Permatang Pauh constituents, in line with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's intention to ensure that the underprivileged can perform the sacrificial rite. 'Although Permatang Pauh is not the Prime Minister's parliamentary constituency, he feels a strong connection to this area. That is why he wants to help ease the burden of the people here and allow them to carry out the ritual at an affordable price,' he told reporters after the ceremony to distribute the sacrificial cows at the Taman Arowana night market site today. Under the programme, 40 areas, including mosques and surau, as well as members of non-governmental organisations and staff of government agencies in the constituency, received the cows that they had purchased. Shamsul Iskandar noted that the initiative did not involve any government subsidies, as NACCOL purchased the cattle directly from farms in large quantities. He said the sacrificial cows were obtained through collaboration with the Johor State Farmers' Organisation and Johor Plantations Group, adding that the initiative will be expanded to other parliamentary constituencies next year. 'For example, the congregation of Masjid Kubang Ulu in the Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency purchased 17 cows. The total would have reached RM95,000, but through this initiative, they only paid RM47,000, savings of nearly 50 per cent,' he added. -- BERNAMA
