Eating out a hidden cost
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PETALING JAYA: With the cost of living rising faster than Malaysians’ income, eating out and getting takeaway food is not always pocket-friendly.
However, economists say it has become the hidden cost of working, as eating out or ordering takeout is the most viable option for many working Malaysians, especially in urban areas.
This is due to challenges such as lacking time and energy to cook after a gruelling day of work and hours spent travelling to and from the workplace.
To help people reduce their reliance on eating out, experts say the government could give employers better incentives to embrace flexible work arrangements (FWAs) to enable workers to prepare meals at home, improve public transport so that they spend less time commuting, and roll out more initiatives to help them raise their incomes.
Economist Prof Dr Geoffrey Williams of the Malaysia University of Science Technology (MUST) said eating out has become less of a luxury or recreational activity and more of a cost of working due to the high demands of a work life.
Cake cries foul over mystery of missing rice
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ALOR STAR: 'Panic buying' is not the cause of local white rice supply depletion.
In refuting the claim by Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, the Consumers Association of Kedah (Cake) said that the consumer body has not observed any indications of panic buying for local rice by the population.
Cake president Yusrizal Yusoff said previously, the local white rice supply was in good condition when there were no increases in the price of imported white rice.
"However, when the increase in the price of imported rice was announced, local white rice suddenly disappeared from the market, leaving only imported rice.
"We have inquired with retailers who experienced shortages and even Mydin's management said there are shortages, this begs the question of where the product has gone," he told reporters after conducting price and supply checks of grocery items at Pasar Besar Alor Star here today.
Yusrizal stressed that it is illogical that local white rice supplies have dried out as the country only imports 30 per cent of rice to satisfy demand.
Local white rice supply expected to stabilise within a month
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KEPALA BATAS: The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry (MAFS) expects the shortage of local white rice supply in the market to stabilise within a month following various intervention measures and continuous monitoring from the government.
Its Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said that the ministry's engagement session with the country’s rice industry players involving manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers agreed to give a commitment to realise the implementation of the Local White Rice Special Programme (PKBPT) nationwide.
"Through PKBPT, manufacturers will increase production by 20 per cent of local white rice supply for the domestic market for a period of one year.
"We will also intervene whenever there is a shortage in supply through the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) and the Farmers' Organisations Authority (LPP)," he said in a press conference here Wednesday (Sept 20).
He said this intervention method was done during the shortage of chicken and egg supplies, which has now been resolved.
Read more: Local white rice supply expected to stabilise within a month
Jualan Agro Madani mudahkan rakyat beli beras
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JOHOR BAHRU: Pelbagai usaha dilaksanakan termasuk mengadakan Jualan Agro Madani memberi kelegaan kepada rakyat, khususnya golongan berpendapatan rendah mendapatkan barangan keperluan asas, termasuk beras tempatan yang agak sukar diperoleh pada masa ini.
Seorang pesara, Azhar Abdul Wahab, 74, mengakui harga ditetapkan sebanyak RM27 bagi sekampit beras 10 kilogram (kg) dan seekor ayam dapat membantu meringankan beban dalam menyediakan keperluan harian bagi keluarganya.
Bulan lalu dia terpaksa membeli beras import yang dijual pada harga lebih mahal, iaitu RM39 sekampit apabila sukar mendapatkan bekalan beras tempatan.
“Saya sudah cari di beberapa lokasi termasuk kedai runcit dan pasar raya di sekitar Tampoi untuk mencari beras tempatan, tetapi tidak jumpa. Alhamdulillah, rezeki hari ini apabila dapat beli beras dengan harga RM27, malah turut dapat seekor ayam,” katanya ditemui pada Jualan Agro Madani di Pasar Tani Kekal Jalan Datin Halimah, di sini hari ini.
Penang to introduce new category of affordable housing prices at RM100,000
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GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government is planning to introduce a new category of affordable housing for households earning a combined income of RM5,000.
The house, priced at RM100,000 each, is meant for young graduates who have just started working.
State Housing and Environment Committee chairman Datuk Seri S. Sundarajoo said the proposal would be brought to the state executive council and state planning committee (SPC) for approval.
"We expect to obtain the necessary approvals by November before introducing it to the target group
"We see a need to introduce this new category of affordable housing as there is none now for households earning a combined income of RM5,000. What we have is for households earning a combined income of RM3,000 and RM8,000.
"So, we need to address this gap to ensure our people are able to buy houses according to their income," he said today.
Sundarajoo said the new category of affordable housing would have a 750sq ft built-up.
Read more: Penang to introduce new category of affordable housing prices at RM100,000
Madani Medical Scheme now encompasses entire country
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KUALA LUMPUR: The Madani Medical Scheme was expanded to the entire country on Friday, Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa told the Dewan Rakyat.
She said the scheme, which was to address the issue of overcrowding at government facilities, was expanded following the good response it has received since its introduction.
"Now more than 1,300 private clinics have registered and cooperated in this programme as a panel to provide health services.
"The Health Ministry also welcomes more private medical clinics across the country to register as panel clinics of the Civil Medical Scheme.
"I also hope that the members of parliament can help promote this scheme in their respective constituencies to ensure that more people benefit from these health facilities," she said.
Read more: Madani Medical Scheme now encompasses entire country
Jualan Rahmah Beras tawar beras import RM14 sekampit
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KUALA LUMPUR - Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Kos Sara Hidup (KPDN) akan melaksanakan Jualan Rahmah Beras di setiap kawasan Parlimen seluruh negara.
Timbalan Menterinya, Fuziah Salleh berkata, menerusi jualan itu pihaknya akan memberikan harga istimewa kepada pengguna dengan menawarkan beras import lima kilogram (kg) dengan harga RM14 sekampit.
"Harga beras import sekampit dengan berat lima kg dalam Jualan Rahmah Bergerak adalah sekitar RM13 hingga RM14, KPDN akan cuba sedaya upaya menawarkan harga sama dalam Jualan Rahmah Beras.
“Jadi kita akan cuba untuk jual dengan harga seperti itu juga. Kalau RM13 sama macam tempatan, tetapi kita jual beras import untuk Jualan Beras Rahmah itu," katanya.
Beliau berkata demikian selepas merasmikan seminar Today’s Malaysia E-Commerce and Consumer Protection Regulatory Framework: The Way Forward di sini pada Selasa.
Turut hadir, Pengarah Kanan Sektor Perdagangan Pengedaran dan Perniagaan KPDN, Datuk Rohaizi Bahari.
Read more: Jualan Rahmah Beras tawar beras import RM14 sekampit
KPDN terima 10,377 aduan melibatkan transaksi dalam talian
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KUALA LUMPUR – Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Kos Sara Hidup (KPDN) menerima hampir 10,377 aduan melibatkan transaksi dalam talian sehingga Ogos, tahun ini.
Menurut Timbalan Menteri KPDN, Fuziah Salleh, aduan melibatkan transaksi dalam talian merangkumi 35 peratus daripada jumlah keseluruhan aduan yang diterima oleh KPDN.
Tambah Fuziah, KPDN kini sedang mengawal selia Akta Perdagangan Elektronik 2006, Akta Perlindungan Pengguna 1999 serta Peraturan-Peraturan Perlindungan Pengguna (Urus Niaga Perdagangan Elektronik) 2012 bagi mencadangkan mekanisma kawal selia bersesuaian untuk memastikan kebajikan pemain industri dan pengguna terjamin.
“Regulasi yang bakal dilakukan bukan meliputi undang-undang semata-mata. Disebabkan perkembangan sektor e-dagang yang sangat pesat, kita perlu lihat bagaimana untuk tambah baik atau mungkin datang dengan (mekanisme) baharu.
“Sebagai contoh, penipuan yang berlaku dalam talian. Kami perlu kaji apakah mekanisme atau rangka kerja terbaik untuk kawal masalah ini,” katanya ketika ditemui di sidang akhbar Seminar Today Malaysia e-Commerce di Hotel Aloft Kuala Lumpur Sentral di sini, hari ini.
Read more: KPDN terima 10,377 aduan melibatkan transaksi dalam talian
Budget 2024 to focus on empowering M40 group
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IPOH: Empowering the M40 group will be among the focuses in Budget 2024, says Steven Sim.
The Deputy Finance Minister II said the middle-class needed assistance and to be empowered as they also contribute to the country's economy.
"Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, 20% of the M40 fell into the B40 category.
"They are the economy generators and workforce, and they are the ones who will spend in the local economy," he told a press conference after attending the Budget 2024 Roadshow at the state secretariat building here on Monday (Sept 18).
"We want to empower them," he added.
Sim said the other focuses of the budget included the small medium enterprises (SMEs).
"The SMEs make up about 98% of the country's economy.
"We want to help our entrepreneurs restructure and add value to their industry, and we want to see high-tech and high value industries to be brought in.
"We do not want the businesses to just prosper, but also to be healthy, strong and smart, so that they can compete regionally and globally, not just in the country,” he said.
4 langkah segera atasi isu bekalan beras tempatan
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KUALA LUMPUR: Isu kekurangan beras putih tempatan dijangka dapat diatasi sepenuhnya menjelang penghujung tahun menerusi beberapa langkah segera yang diambil Bahagian Kawalselia Padi dan Beras, Kementerian Pertanian dan Keterjaminan Makanan (KPKM).
Ketua Pengarah KPKM, Datuk Azman Mahmood, berkata satu pertemuan bersama pengusaha restoran, penjaja kecil serta pihak berkaitan diadakan di Putrajaya kelmarin, membincangkan inisiatif segera bagi memastikan bekalan beras tidak terjejas di pasaran.
Peniaga diberi diskaun beli beras import
Antara langkah diambil termasuklah menambah bekalan di hypermarket selain peniaga diberikan diskaun untuk membeli beras import bagi tujuan perniagaan.
Read more: 4 langkah segera atasi isu bekalan beras tempatan
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