PUTRAJAYA: The two-day Symposium on Cost of Living 2023 here will be a platform for the government, through the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) to strengthen initiatives to tackle cost of living issues endured by Malaysians.
National Action Council on Cost of Living (Naccol) director, Atan Sapian, told Bernama that SCOL 2023, jointly organised by the Ministry and Naccol, gathered experts of various fields to discuss cost of living issues and to seek suggested solutions based on new ideas.
The topics discussed at SCOL, which begins today (November 28), are related to social protection guarantees, the importance of a healthy lifestyle and to spend according to our means, he said, adding that presentations during the symposium include Ukur Baju Di Badan Sendiri, The Role of Phillantrophists in Tackling Cost of Living, Society's Role through Social and Religious Perspectives, The Role of Business Communities and Consumers, as well as Social Protection Guarantees to Complement Targetted Subsidies.
The more than 600 participants in this year's SCOL, which was organised for the first time in 2021, include policymakers, academicians, economic experts, corporations, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO), industry players, consumer associations, media influencers and community representatives so that all input can be considered and brought to the ministry to improve the people's living standards, he said.
He also shared that symposium panellists include chief statistician, Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin and Economic Affairs Ministry deputy secretary-general (macro) Datuk Luqman Ahmad.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that a new agenda on cost of living can be highlighted and a mechanism for solutions can be discussed at the same time through this symposium.
In his speech that was read out by acting Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali at the launch of the symposium today, Ahmad Zahid said that the discussions from the previous SCOL have already served as catalysts to the implementation of government decisions today. — Bernama