GEORGE TOWN, December 18 — The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) has raised urgent concerns over a steep rise in vegetable prices, with beans, long beans, ladies’ fingers, and sawi seeing price surges of up to 150% within two weeks. CAP attributes this spike to supply shortages caused by prolonged rainy weather and has called on the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) and the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA) to implement immediate measures to mitigate the crisis.
CAP President Mohideen Abdul Kader emphasized the burden on low-income households, urging the government to prioritize local demand by temporarily halting exports and improving food distribution efficiency. Recommendations include reducing middlemen, direct market links, and targeted support for farmers through subsidies and training programs. CAP criticized FAMA’s insufficient response to past calls for reform, stressing the need for decisive action to prevent further strain on vulnerable communities.
