PUTRAJAYA: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail today announced the appointment of five new members of the National Cost of Living Action Council (Naccol), which comes into effect immediately.
They include Attorney-General Tommy Thomas and Jeli member of Parliament Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.
The other three new Naccol members are International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Ignatius Darell Leiking, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation Sdn Bhd (MDEC) chief executive officer Surina Shukri and Malaysia Youth Council president Jufitri Joha.
"With these additional Naccol committee members, the government is banking on their expertise to assist in our effort to address the issues of cost of living," said Dr Wan Azizah after chairing the Naccol meeting today.
Also present in the two-hour meeting were Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
The deputy prime minister also unveiled several decisions made by Naccol to address the cost of living issues including giving the green light on a proposal by the Transport Ministry via the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) to enforce the licensing of terminals and regulating the charges to be imposed by terminal operators based on the quality of terminal services and facilities.
"Nonetheless, the committee has made it clear the cost should not be transferred to the consumers," she said, adding it was high time for terminal operators to be regulated, which had not been done before.
Saifuddin said the matter was being fine-tuned by APAD and once it had been gazetted, the charges imposed on terminal services and facilities including toilets would be managed better.
Dr Wan Azizah added that Naccol had accepted the Transport Ministry's proposal to review the Electric Train Services (ETS) fares by doing away with fare control and implementing a dynamic fare structure for ETS.
On the QFish programme, the deputy prime minister said the committee had agreed for the programme to be improved and expanded nationwide.
"The QFish programme is aimed at stabilising the price of fish and soften the impact of the high cost of living on consumers. This programme uses Individual Quick Freezing (IQF) technology to ensure fish freshness and quality.
"The price tags of about RM10 per kilogramme for the prices of kembung, selar, pelaling and selayang. The QFish programme aims to raise fish output capacity from 561 metric tonne (MT) to 3,500 MT per year. Fish is an important source of protein," she said.