Fuziah told the Dewan Rakyat that the task force had no effect on the inflation rate.

“Therefore, the task force no longer meets. Plus it is not effective to have meetings twice a month, so we are not continuing this task force,” she said.

She was responding to a supplementary question from Tan Kar Hing (PH-Gopeng) on whether the task force still existed.

The task force, which was formed to formulate strategies aimed at tackling inflation and the rising prices of goods, was led by then communications and multimedia minister Annuar Musa.

The six-member task force also consisted of then finance minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz, then agriculture and food industries minister Ronald Kiandee, then domestic trade and consumer affairs minister Alexander Nanta Linggi, then economic affairs minister Mustapa Mohamed and Chief Secretary Zuki Ali.

The task force was criticised by several quarters in the past, notably by former opposition leaders, for its failure to address the rising cost of living.