KOTA KINABALU: Soaring prices are increasingly pushing basic necessities out of reach for Sabahans, prompting an opposition lawmaker to demand answers on the tangible impact of the government's RM1 billion budget specifically allocated to alleviate spiraling living costs.
"Consumers continue to grapple with steep price hikes for staples like chicken, fish, eggs, and cabbage," lamented Tanjung Aru Assemblyman Datuk Junz Wong during the debate session at the State Legislative Assembly.
"Today, chicken stands at a whopping RM15 per kg, up from RM12.50–RM13 per kg in 2023. Eggs are now RM18–RM21, compared to RM13–RM14.50 previously, while cabbage, once merely RM1.50 to RM2, now costs RM8."
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.defineSlot('/22826383987/dailyexpress_inline', [1, 1], 'gpt-passback').addService(googletag.pubads());googletag.enableServices();googletag.display('gpt-passback');});Junz highlighted the drastic disparity in prices between Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia, citing that a kilogram of cabbage in Johor, for instance, can be purchased for as low as RM1.69.
He questioned why Sabahans, especially those relying on locally produced goods, face such significantly higher costs despite the government's stated commitment to price control.
"This is the pressing issue in Sabah right now. I believe our people are under immense pressure...People are feeling more and more burdened every day by the rising cost of living," Junz asserted, noting that residents are experiencing diminishing disposable income and reduced purchasing power for essential food items.