Most Read
Most Commented
story images
story images
mk-logo
From Our Readers
‘Price increase of essential items for Deepavali in Penang’

Due to the current increase in the cost of living and price increases, many Indian Malaysians are not only living hand to mouth, but are also forced to survive on one meal a day, which is particularly evident with the marginalised Indian Malaysians.

A very recent survey by the Penang Hindu Association(PHA) revealed that the prices of provisions, spices and cooking ingredients such as Pappadam, Milk Powder, Black Bean (Ulunthu) Flour, Dried Chilly, Cinnamon, Ghee, Green Moong Dhall, Sardine, White Pulut Rice, Muruku Flour and Cumin Seed have risen sharply even as much as 125 percent over the years.

The most affected are the essential items and that too just before the Deepavali festival, and to make matters worse there is scarcity or no cooking oil available. Deepavali is a festival of lights celebrated grandly by all Hindus. Most importantly, preparation of delicious goodies or Indian savories , curries, primarily items such as Muruku, and other deep-fried food as well as other associated titbits and snacks.

As some of the items are basic household needs, the poor and the underprivileged families would be badly affected, especially those who are surviving only one meal a day. Due to such price increases many of the poor Hindu families would have a very gloomy Deepavali and some others may only celebrate in a mild manner.

PHA is also much concerned regarding short-changing by reducing the weight of items sold in the retail outlets. To avoid consumers being deceived on the weight of item sold, PHA urges the various municipal councils to install weighing machine at the municipal car parks, in order to detect shop keepers from profiting through deceiving on weights of items sold.

The price increases have been further aggravated by the imposition of 6 percent Goods and Services Tax (GST) and those celebrating Deepavali on Oct 29 will face financial constraints and may be forced to borrow money to celebrate this year’s Deepavali.

Children look forward eagerly to this Deepavali festival celebration which comes only once a year. PHA is very concerned about these price increases which will again snowball to accelerate and contribute toward a higher cost of living. Let alone the poor families, but this will also impact the ordinary man on the street.

The governments needs to address such price increases and PHA urges the government and the relevant ministries, especially the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry as well as the Prime Minister’s Department to constantly check the stores and outlets nationwide and take necessary action to arrest such price increases, as well as to subsidise the essential items or the most commonly needed food items and immediately reinstate the cooking oil subsidy.


P MURUGIAH is deputy president, Penang Hindu Association.

ADS