NST: DOSM to develop indicator to measure cost of living level - PM

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KUALA LUMPUR: The government has agreed for the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) to craft a new indicator to assess the cost of living level, extending its reach down to the district level.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said this indicator would assist the government in designing more precise and effective programme implementations.

This decision was reached during the first 2024 National Cost of Living Action Council (Naccol) meeting at parliament today.

Anwar, who is also the Naccol chairman, said the meeting delved into several matters on the cost of living, particularly concerning the issues of rice prices and availability within the country.

"Several short-term mechanisms have been identified and will be implemented soon.

"I also stressed the need for continuous enforcement to ensure that no one takes advantage of the expansion of scope and changes in the service tax rate implemented on selected services only," he said in a Facebook post today.

In this regard, he said, the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry launched a special inspection under Ops Kesan which began on March 1 to ensure that traders do not arbitrarily raise prices.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, alongside several ministers, deputy ministers, senior ministry and agency officials, industry representatives, non-governmental organisations, and academicians.

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