BERA: The government has surpassed its 500,000 job target this year despite the Covid-19 pandemic and economic challenges, says Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

       The Prime Minister said that with the success of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK), the country’s economic growth was also expected to improve next year.

       “When I took over, cases of Covid-19 had shot up and we had to take serious action to save lives, even though we knew the economy was tumbling.

       “Due to the success of PICK, we started to open up the economy. Businessess resumed and the economy is growing,” he told Bernama at the opening of the Bera Umno Women, Youth and Puteri delegates meeting yesterday.

       On the increase in the price of goods, Ismail Sabri said that sometimes it was beyond the government’s control.

       “We know prices are rising and we are making efforts, such as organising a sales promotion (through the Malaysian Family programme) of up to 50% discount in two areas, in every parliamentary constituency,” he said.

       The Prime Minister also said that the government had allocated RM100mil to the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry, as well as RM62mil in fertiliser subsidies to overcome rising prices.

       “In the cost of living meeting that I chaired, we also agreed that traders should not increase the price of cooking oil as an additional subsidy of RM150mil had been allocated,” he said.