PM Gives Assurance On Keeping Inflation In Check

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 22 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today gave the assurance that the government would strive to ensure that prices of controlled items were not raised in an effort to curb inflation and not impose greater financial burden on the people.

like he's going to check

He said he realised that the people lamented the recent increase in the prices of several goods and added that as an immediate measure the government would ensure that there was no smuggling out or hoarding of essential items.

no government in this world can control it and the increase of prices is not because of smuggling or hoarding alone.

"You can flood the market with supply of food items. If we have much fish and meat (in the market), God willing, their prices will drop," he told reporters after a closed-door briefing for more than 5,000 Umno representatives from throughout the country, here.

we are not eating fish and meat only

The prime minister advised the people to be prudent in their spending now that they had to spend more following an increase in the prices of goods.

He said the government had also abolished the school fees in the hope that this would ease the financial burden of parents, especially those who had many school-going children.

"And that is a lot of money... if you have many children in school," he said.

school fees RM4.50. Is that a lot ?

Abdullah said the government did not forget the people in the rural areas, adding that several programmes had been implemented to assist them, especially the poor.
He also said that the small and medium industries were expanding in the rural areas and this could help the rural people earn a better income.
The prime minister said the government was also drawing up strategies to create more employment opportunities for the people.

don't just keep drawing, we want some action.

Asked whether he was ready to have parliament dissolved soon to pave the way for the next general election, Abdullah said: "Let's see. Sooner or later, or much later."
Abdullah said any of the 3.4 million Umno members stood the chance of being a candidate in the next general election, provided he or she fulfilled the criteria.
He said it was more important that Umno members gave their support to the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates in the election.

i thought the candidates are your SIL's choice( most of it )

Umno would hold steadfast to the spirit of camaraderie prevalent during the by-election in Ijok, Selangor, last year when Umno helped ensure the victory of the BN candidate from the MIC though certain quarters wanted Umno to contest in the Malay-majority constituency, he said.
K. Parthiban of the BN won the by-election, beating Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) by a majority of 1,850 votes.

let see what is the outcome , a win is 99.99% sure for BN but we hope that there will be strong opposition voice in parliament.