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The Ministry of Economy has revealed that while overall food prices remain generally stable, consumers are beginning to face higher costs for certain essential items, particularly vegetables and seafood
During a recent briefing on economic supply challenges, Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir noted that food prices fluctuated between 4 May and 6 May, ranging from a 2% decrease to a 6.7% increase compared to the preceding week, according to The Star.
Price movements have varied across the protein and vegetable sectors
Beef prices saw a slight reprieve, dropping by 1.4% from RM36.40 to RM35.88 per kilogramme.
Conversely, standard chicken prices rose slightly, from RM9.50 to RM9.51.
More significant increases were recorded for other common staples; ikan kembong rose by 3.9% to reach RM17.42, while the price of white prawns increased by 1.2% to RM32.11 per kilogramme.
Sawi climbed 4% to RM7.23 per kilogramme, and fresh coconut milk recorded the sharpest increase at 6.7%, reaching RM16.88 per kilogramme.
Akmal Nasrullah said that although statistics suggest food price movements remain largely under control, the prime minister and the ministry are concerned about the pressure felt by groups in rural areas
Consequently, he said the ministry is coordinating with relevant agencies to provide targeted assistance to the poor and vulnerable.
To address these challenges, the Ministry of Economy and the Department of Statistics Malaysia have developed the Global Supply Crisis Monitoring Dashboard, scheduled for public release on 15 May
The platform is designed to provide transparency and act as a central reference for citizens to track real-time developments regarding global supply chains, as reported by The Edge.
The public-facing portal will offer detailed insights through 10 primary submenus, ensuring a comprehensive view of the economic landscape
These categories include tracking price shifts and supply levels, monitoring inflation and essential item pricing, accessing data on GDP growth and merchandise trade, and viewing real-time updates on currency valuations.
Alongside the public version, a dedicated government edition will serve as an internal monitoring tool
This version is engineered to assess crisis developments and identify emerging risks using near-real-time data. This allows policymakers to formulate structured mitigation strategies and coordinate rapid responses to supply chain pressures.
According to the minister, this initiative represents a significant shift in national crisis management. By leveraging data-driven insights, the government aims to detect early economic pressures more effectively while maintaining clear communication with the public during periods of global uncertainty.
