Deputy Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Henry Sum Agong said these subsidies were to ensure essential items, such as sugar, cooking oil, flour, rice and cooking gas, could be sold at a controlled price.

“The government is still controlling the price of essential items so that these items can be made available to consumers at reasonable prices,” he said in reply to Senator Lucas Umbul, who wanted to know the measures taken by the government to tackle the rising cost of living.

He said the government had implemented various initiatives and programmes to keep the rising cost of living under control and to help reduce the people’s financial burdens.

These were through the festive season price control scheme, the standardised price of goods programme, the 1Malaysia People’s Shop (KR1M) 2.0 and MyFarm Outlet programme, with the cooperation of the agriculture and agro-based industry ministry.

“The ministry constantly monitors and conducts enforcement under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.

“This is to ensure traders do not make exorbitant profits and will continue supplying goods at reasonable prices,” he added.