KL to boost food output

KL to boost food output

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia will increase food production to
keep inflation low as the economy shows signs of recovery, the
official Bernama news agency said Friday.

"The government intends to reduce the inflation to its lowest
level, if possible to zero percent," said Deputy Prime Minister
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Consumer prices rose 2.5 percent year-on-year in July and were
up 0.1 percent from the previous month, the statistics department
said Monday.

It attributed the increase in the first seven months to the
higher cost of food, beverages and tobacco, medical care and
health expenses and miscellaneous goods and services.

Economists said the move to contain inflation would keep
interest rates low.