Opposition says govt 'deceptively' hiked staple food prices with plastic bag tax
Shiyam said the government did this on the assumption that the people would not know and that they could get away with it.
By
Mohamed Muzayyin Nazim
PPM vice-president and Naifaru MP Ahmed Shiyam expressed concerns in parliament on Wednesday over the increase in prices of staple foods with the introduction of an MVR 2 per plastic bag tax, saying that it was done so as to increase food prices by deceiving the public.
As per the amendment to the Waste Management Act in November, a tax of MVR 2 per plastic bag came into effect from Tuesday. With this, the price of plastic bags has gone up manifold, raising concerns among the general public.
“MVR 2 is charged per plastic bag from our caring government. What are they doing? Would you buy a kilo of sugar and put it in a kilo of rice, would you?" said Shiyam.
"The price was hiked by MVR 2 per kg of sugar, MVR 2 per kg of flour, MVR 2 per kg of rice, is that not so?".
Shiyam said the government did this on the assumption that the people would not know and that they could get away with it.
"But people are smarter than that. The thefts committed by these people are well known," he said.
Shopkeepers usually sell rice, flour and sugar in plastic bags. With the new tax, each bag will be taxed at MVR 2, increasing the overall price of staple food items.
