KUCHING: The Consumers Voice Association of Sarawak (COVAS) hopes the Budget 2023 will include more or higher subsidies to allow people to purchase essential items at affordable prices, despite global uncertainties.
Its President Michael Tiong said this could ensure the people would not be severely affected by the increase in prices of goods in the country.
Otherwise, he said, any price increase would lead to a domino effect on other goods and services, affecting the consumers.
“We hope the government will continue or even to increase or introduce more subsidies for items such as chicken, egg, rice, wheat flour, cooking oil as well as sugar,” he told New Sarawak Tribune.
“All these (subsidies) will ease the public’s burden and help control prices of goods and food items,” he said.
Apart from that, he said, more funds should be allocated to Sarawak, to intensify various infrastructure developments, especially in the rural areas.
Such initiatives would reduce transportation costs, and lower the cost of doing business in Sabah and Sarawak which would in turn bring down the cost of living.
Tiong also urged the government to invest in more research and development initiatives on local products in order to lessen dependence on imported products.
“When we reduce imports, we can reduce or stabilise the prices of goods in the country,” he added.
Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz is scheduled to table the 2023 Budget in the Dewan Rakyat on Oct 7.
