KUALA LUMPUR, 27 Dec: The impact of inflation does not only involve financial aspects, but a social impact on the family, when parents need to get additional work, which will also affect the aspect of family harmony.
“This is certain. What more? There are others and this is certainly heart-breaking” said the Executive Director of the PAS Research Centre, Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, quoted from Harakah Daily.
He said that according to research from the International Association of Traffic and Services, every time fuel such as petrol and diesel increases, and inflation begins, the low-income group will change their way of life.
“Barisan Nasional (BN) ministers do not need to ask the people to starve or take alternative routes to avoid paying toll due to the hike because they know how to survive,” he said.
He said that only ministers can live in luxury by shopping at Harrods in London and major cities in the world during Christmas and New Year, but the people have started to tighten their belts and are struggling to prepare for their children to start the school term.
Dzulkefly said that when the people switch from a Kancil and Proton Saga to riding motorcycles to the office, studies find that accident rates increase.
He said that Malaysia is a country which has the highest risk of road accident deaths in the world, where motorcyclists are three times at risk of being involved in an accident compared to using a car.
“With the rising cost of living or inflation of goods, Malaysians are faced with the risk of fatal accidents. Is the BN government aware of their action of dramatically increasing prices? BN is victimising the people,” he said.
He said that a group of researchers at the University of Science, Malaysia (USM), also found a correlation between inflation and crime in 2009.
“Najib’s administration must be reminded that the crime NKRA (National Key Result Areas) and the KPI will be tarnished when the people easily change their careers or increase their income by committing theft and robbery. Findings have discovered fact than when the pressures and cost of living is high causing inflation, it will also increase the crime rate.
“People are also dragged into the mire of crime or become victims of crime. Who triggered it?” he said.
