Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Minister Hamzah Zainuddin said today the higher cost of living cannot be avoided.

“It is inevitable. If a country wants to be a developed nation, then it must have a good and advanced infrastructure.

“So, of course there is a method to balance a better way of life with the prices of things that have increased," Hamzah said on the sidelines of the Umno general assembly in Kuala Lumpur.

He was asked to comment on numerous delegates raising the issue at the meet.

Hamzah said the government was focussed on raising income, instead of reducing prices.

Power to reduce prices not with government

“There’s a difference with the prices of goods and the initiative to obtain a higher income," he added.

The minister further claimed that the power to reduce the prices of goods and services does not lie with the government.

“Supply and demand depends on traders themselves, it’s just that the prices must be reasonable,” he said.

Hamzah was also asked to comment on Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin’s demand that the party and government stop the various increases in the prices of goods and services.

Responding to this, Hamzah said he could understand when “people cry at the government” for the increases of prices.

“But you must understand that my ministry is actually not directly looking after all those things that have been introduced into this country,” he said.

However, Hamzah stressed, he would discuss the matter with the relevant quarters to ensure that any more price increases would have his understanding and approval first.