KUCHING: Consumers must educate themselves on their rights and not be afraid to exercise consumer power to help keep the cost of living in check.
PBB Satok Youth chief Iskandar Sharkawi believed it was because of these prudent reasons that residents and businesses in Satok had managed to weather the rising costs of goods, he told The Borneo Post recently.
“Since the last few festive seasons, I believe there has been profiteering by certain traders, but I believe in Satok the people are smart enough to choose and pick which merchants to buy from.
“I can also see the businesses are still flourishing, and I don’t see that much of a problem in Satok. But because people’s income are still stagnant while price of goods are increasing, I believe they have to be prudent on spending and to cut down on unnecessary items,” he said, adding that consumers have to practice smart shopping.
While local residents had voiced their concerns about the rising cost of goods, on the part of PBB Youth, they were also going to the ground to explain to the people about the subsidy rationalisation.
Meanwhile, Iskandar said the Youth branch would continue to organise activities and projects to foster good relations with the local community and to support Satok assemblyman Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Among the projects implemented recently was putting three boats on standby at Kampung Kudei as a precautionary measure against flood as the village is in a lying on a low area.
On the 11th state election, he said based on analysis and feedback, the Youth branch was on solid ground as the people could see that they are still relevant, important and could serve them (people) better.
He disclosed that PBB Satok Youth’s membership strength had increased by 10 per cent since the last state polls to about 1,000 members.