PUTRAJAYA: The High Level Committee on Urban Poverty today said it will focus on holistic approach to address the issues of urban poor.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the decision to have such a holistic approach is a reflection of the government's commitment to assist the people in dealing with high cost of living especially among those in the urban areas.
"The high cost of living has put a huge pressure on the poor in the cities compared to those in the rural areas," he said in a statement after chairing the High Level Committee meeting, here, today.
Also present were Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong and Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong.
Zahid said short, medium and long-term strategies had been identified and agreed by those who attended the meeting with the support of various ministries and government agencies.
One of the strategies is to optimise production to ensure enough supply meets demand, which will check the issue of price increase.
"A joint committee will be formed to study the production cost and the cost involved throughout the supply chain as a move to prevent price manipulation by the middle men."
The deputy prime minister also said the government will study a proposal to implement a food aid programme for the urban poor via the National Blue Ocean Strategy.
It will be through the involvement of hypermarket operators in providing frozen food supply to the hardcore poor in the cities.
"Should this programme succeed, similar approach may be extended to the public and private higher education institutees especially in big cities."