Official data shows kangkung price up 17pct
Aidila RazakPublished: Jan 22, 2014 7:42 PM | Updated: Jan 22, 2014 7:46 PM
Despite claims by the prime minister that the price of the popular vegetable kangkung has gone down, official data from the Statistics Department shows it has shot up by a massive 17.4 percent in December 2013 compared to the month before.
This is despite claims by PM Najib Abdul Razak that it had gone down.
Despite claims by the prime minister that the price of the popular vegetable kangkung has gone down, official data from the Statistics Department shows it has shot up by a massive 17.4 percent in December 2013 compared to the month before.
According to the Consumer Price Index, rises in kangkung prices are only overshadowed by one vegetable - the spinach - the price for which surged 18.1 percent in the space of one month.
Other vegetables seeing a surge in prices compared to November include the leafy choi sam (14 percent), long beans (12.8 percent), cucumber (10.7 percent) and red chillies (10.6 percent).
Chicken is 2.7 percent more expensive in December compared to the month before, while Indian mackerel is 2.2 percent dearer.
In contrast, cauliflower prices dipped by 6.7 percent between November and December, along with a reduction in the prices of durian, watermelon, sea bass, catfish and garlic.
On the whole, consumer prices rose 3.2 percent in December compared to the month before, driven by the price of essentials like food, utilities and transport prices.
Average Malaysians paid 4.5 percent more for their food and non-alcoholic items last December.
However, those earning less than RM3,000 were worse hit, with the prices of goods consumed by this consumer group rising even higher than the rate endured by the average Malaysian.
Compared to the same month in 2012, those earning RM3,000 and below faced a rise in costs of 3.6 percent.
Prices went up across the board, except for communications, and clothing and footwear.
Drastic rise in kangkung price
Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had been lampooned when he said that the price of the humble kangkung has gone down, and questioned why no one praised the government for it.
He said this as an example of how prices of vegetables and fish are determined by demand and supply and weather conditions, and that the government should not be blamed.
While he cited a newspaper report, it is unclear where the information was derived as official statistics available at the time he made the speech show that the kangkung price was actually on the rise, up by 7.7 percent in November.
The Statistics Department listed the vegetable as one of 11 food items which saw a “drastic” rise in prices.
Prices have been on the rise since the government started cutting fuel and food subsidies, in an effort to reduce its fiscal deficit.
The kangkung remark has since become a symbol of grouses over the rising cost of living.
The collective lampooning has, however, pushed pro-BN quarters onto the defensive, some turning the issue into a racial matter by accusing detractors of disrespecting the PM and Malays.
At a Finance Ministry event this week, Najib, who is also Finance Minister, defended the kangkung remark and explained that the government is not trying to burden the rakyat by cutting subsidies.
According to the Consumer Price Index, rises in kangkung prices are only overshadowed by one vegetable - the spinach - the price for which surged 18.1 percent in the space of one month.
Other vegetables seeing a surge in prices compared to November include the leafy choi sam (14 percent), long beans (12.8 percent), cucumber (10.7 percent) and red chillies (10.6 percent).
Chicken is 2.7 percent more expensive in December compared to the month before, while Indian mackerel is 2.2 percent dearer.
In contrast, cauliflower prices dipped by 6.7 percent between November and December, along with a reduction in the prices of durian, watermelon, sea bass, catfish and garlic.
On the whole, consumer prices rose 3.2 percent in December compared to the month before, driven by the price of essentials like food, utilities and transport prices.
Average Malaysians paid 4.5 percent more for their food and non-alcoholic items last December.
However, those earning less than RM3,000 were worse hit, with the prices of goods consumed by this consumer group rising even higher than the rate endured by the average Malaysian.
Compared to the same month in 2012, those earning RM3,000 and below faced a rise in costs of 3.6 percent.
Prices went up across the board, except for communications, and clothing and footwear.
Drastic rise in kangkung price
Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had been lampooned when he said that the price of the humble kangkung has gone down, and questioned why no one praised the government for it.
He said this as an example of how prices of vegetables and fish are determined by demand and supply and weather conditions, and that the government should not be blamed.
While he cited a newspaper report, it is unclear where the information was derived as official statistics available at the time he made the speech show that the kangkung price was actually on the rise, up by 7.7 percent in November.
The Statistics Department listed the vegetable as one of 11 food items which saw a “drastic” rise in prices.
Prices have been on the rise since the government started cutting fuel and food subsidies, in an effort to reduce its fiscal deficit.
The kangkung remark has since become a symbol of grouses over the rising cost of living.
The collective lampooning has, however, pushed pro-BN quarters onto the defensive, some turning the issue into a racial matter by accusing detractors of disrespecting the PM and Malays.
At a Finance Ministry event this week, Najib, who is also Finance Minister, defended the kangkung remark and explained that the government is not trying to burden the rakyat by cutting subsidies.
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