Ending egg subsidy will burden B40, small traders, says PAS Sarawak
MIRI (May 2): Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) Sarawak has voiced strong opposition to the federal government's decision to end the egg subsidy beginning this August, citing serious consequences for low-income households and small traders.
PAS Sarawak Commissioner Jofri Jaraiee in a statement said the subsidy removal would likely result in higher egg prices, impacting food stall operators, hawkers, and B40 families who rely on eggs as a daily dietary staple.
'We have observed long queues of people just to obtain eggs at affordable prices.
'This highlights the essential role eggs play in the daily lives of Malaysians and how even slight price increases can significantly affect them,' he said.
Jofri described the timing of the subsidy removal as 'ill-considered', particularly as many are still recovering from the economic aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic and the effects of ongoing inflation.
He urged the government to reconsider the decision and proposed several alternatives, including targeted subsidies for the B40 income group and small business operators, incentives for local egg producers to boost domestic supply, stricter monitoring of the supply chain to prevent price manipulation, and open consultations with stakeholders including producers, distributors, and consumer representatives.
'The current policy risks benefiting only a select few while the broader population bears the consequences,' he said, while calling on the government to ensure that all decisions prioritise the welfare of the people.
'Let us unite in rejecting policies that burden the people and call for social justice and public welfare to be the foundation of national decision-making.' B40 egg subsidy Jofri Jaraiee pas sarawak small businesses
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