KUCHING: The Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) held the Goods, Price Stabilisation and Cost of Living Seminar, addressing the rising cost of living and the need for effective strategies to manage prices of essential goods across the state.
The seminar, themed “Issues, Challenges and Strategies,” gathered policymakers, industry experts, and stakeholders at the Waterfront Hotel here today (Oct 3) to discuss sustainable solutions to the challenges faced by urban and rural communities.
UNIMAS deputy vice-chancellor Professor Dr Siti Noor Linda Taib said that rising prices, especially for essential goods, are not just a local economic issue.
“It affects every strata of society, impacting the quality of life, social welfare, and future opportunities for all Sarawakians.
“Due to the state’s unique geography and demographics, solutions to control prices and manage living costs must be comprehensive, sustainable, and inclusive, and we must ensure that the realities faced by the rural, indigenous, and low-income households are to be considered,” she said when speaking at the seminar.
In addition, she highlighted the rising prices of essential goods in Sarawak, where many necessities like rice, meat, and packaged foods are imported.
“Sarawak aims to reduce its reliance on imported rice by 2027 and hopes to become a rice exporter by 2030.
“To achieve this, sustainable strategies and policies are needed to lower dependence on imported rice, and with the state’s self-sufficiency ratio (SSR) for meat at just 12 per cent last year, further measures are necessary to boost local meat production and improve food security,” she added.
She also stated that livestock products are less dependent on imports which still face price instability due to internal factors like rising costs of fertilisers, feed, and transportation, alongside unpredictable weather, while external factors such as global economic impacts, inflation, and currency fluctuations also significantly influence prices.
Siti expressed confidence that the seminar will result in effective and implementable strategies to balance global economic pressures with Sarawak’s specific needs.
“Our discussions today prioritise the commitment of all to improving the quality of life for every Sarawakian, ensuring that our policies and actions are proactive, sustainable, and inclusive for the long term.
“As we move forward, let us remember that while the challenges we face are significant, our potential to overcome them is equally great,” she expressed.
Furthermore, she hopes the seminar will pave the way for new policies that will help stabilise goods prices, enhance the quality of life for Sarawakians, and ensure that Sarawak remains a state of growth and prosperity for all.
