Cost of living still a problem for the people – Johor PN

JOHOR BAHRU - Johor Perikatan Nasional describes the 50-day administration of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as uninspiring with no seriousness to resolve current issues and that the latter portrays more drama than work.

Johor PN chairman Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal said the Unity Government supported by Pakatan Harapan (PH) and BN was not serious about solving the people’s problems as promised in their respective manifestos.

“I did not immediately feel the seriousness of the Prime Minister and PH, in particular, to realise the 10 Priorities of the Harapan Action Plan for the 15th General Election (GE15) campaign, which have yet to be touched.

“One of them is the cost of living. Until now, the issue of the cost of living still plagues the people.

“Voices demanding that the government allow the targeted release of the Employee Provident Fund (EPF) for the last time are still heard.

“Why is that? There are no fewer complaints from the people on the ground and the supply problem in the market is endless.

The government decided to import eggs from foreign countries to meet the needs and demands of the local market while the real issue is solving the internal problems faced by domestic producers,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.

He said the ‘economist’ Rafizi Ramli, when he was in the opposition had yet to succeed in presenting a formula that could restore the people’s ‘pockets’ even though he had become a minister.

“We are also waiting for what will make PN’ fall’, don’t let him be the one who’s stuck.

“While the Prime Minister is smiling about his position, the coalition government ministers continue to behave ‘abnormally’,” he claimed.

Among them, Dr Sahruddin said, was the provision of free sanitary napkins in the minister’s office and the restriction of people’s right to freedom of expression, especially on the TikTok application.

Next, he explained the government’s fluctuating decisions regarding the appointment of positions in government-related companies.

“First, they ended those who were politically appointed. Then, the appointment was announced, suddenly it was postponed again after being badly discriminated by the people.

“This is not including the doubtful East Coast Rail Line (ECRL) project.

“Former BN minister stated that the finalised cost was RM50.27 billion while the Prime Minister said it was RM74.96 billion, which had been reduced compared to the original cost of RM85.97.

“So, who is telling the truth and who is lying,” he asked.

He explained that the question of Anwar’s promise to lower the price of oil had not been brought up.

This was highlighted during his campaign while he was still in opposition, but the oil price had not been changed as promised, Dr Sahruddin claimed.

In addition, he said, public concerns about the influx of visitors from China also seemed to be unheard of when the people experienced difficulties and misery due to the Covid-19 pandemic two years ago.

“Until now, this virus still exists in various variants. Learn from past experiences.

“The gloomy period that the world and the country had to go through due to Covid-19 had hampered us all.

“Now, in the endemic phase, the government cannot take it lightly in determining health issues and public safety,” he said.

The member of the Bukit Kepong State Legislative Assembly was of the opinion that during the 50 days of Anwar’s administration as Prime Minister there was nothing to be proud of, including the appointment of a cabinet that lacked the ‘wow factor’.