“The government must take comprehensive measures to curb price increases and ensure there is sufficient supply of food and daily necessities,” said Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin.

The home minister said the main focus should be on efforts to aid the people, especially those in the low-income group.

To this end, he said, Bersatu will be expanding its assistance programme to include community farming, which is already being implemented in several areas.

“This programme will help the surrounding communities generate income and supply them with vegetables and foods at lower prices,” he said in a statement.

This comes amid public concerns of a worsening food crisis. Some have opted to store up dry and canned food in case the situation worsens.

On Monday, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah said the food security crisis needed to be addressed immediately, especially as the world is facing various challenges at the moment.

The King said a long-term plan must be drawn up to strengthen food security and ensure that cost of living is at a reasonable level, while also advising Malaysians to be frugal and spend wisely.

Separately, Hamzah said former home minister Radzi Sheikh Ahmad has been admitted as a member of the Bersatu Supreme Council following a unanimous vote.