KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 20 — The federal government may have to engage “unconventional” methods to better explain the recent hike in living costs to the public, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.
Ahmad Zahid said he understood public concerns and outrage over rising prices of goods and services, including tolls, transport fares and electricity bills, adding that the government would seek an “interpersonal approach” in its explanations.
“We will have to give explanation via communication methods that may be unconventional… we may use interpersonal approach which would be more effective,” he was quoted saying in an interview with Malay broadsheet Mingguan Malaysia published today.
“These matters may be difficult to explain in laymen’s terms but it is not impossible to explain, so that the people will understand matters on fiscal system and national monetary policy,” he added.
However, he did not elaborate on the measures to be adopted by the government.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak recently attributed "external factors" to the rising living costs in Malaysia and also the ringgit slump against a basket of foreign currencies.
In a post on his website last Friday, Najib said the government had done its best to help lighten the people's burden. He cited its recent special discounts for public transports as an example.
