KUALA LUMPUR: A bigger bottom income group is likely following inflation and rising cost of living, the Dewan Rakyat heard today.
Deputy Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Rosol Wahid said the Statistics Department was currently collating the household incomes and expenditures, expected to be concluded in December.
"Many people are badly hit by the rising cost (of goods). It is likely for the T20 and M40 groups to shrink and the B40, the bottom income group in Malaysia, will become B60," he said in reply to a question from Steven Choong Shiau Yoon (PBM-Tebrau).
He said the government had taken steps to address this through Keluarga Malaysia sales programmes and setting up the Jihad Tangani Inflasi task force led by the Communications and Multimedia Ministry.
"Everyone is affected by inflation. The government is planning to expand the Malaysian Family sales programme to cover state constituencies.
"We appreciate members of parliament who have helped their constituents deal with the rising costs."