KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 12 — Mydin managing director Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin said Menu Rahmah, the new government’s affordable meal programme that offers a basic dish at just RM4.90, won’t last three months if supply costs shoot up.

The wholesale operator boss’ warning was given in an interview with Utusan Mingguan today, the Sunday edition of Utusan Malaysia, in which he called for a more robust solution to living cost pressure.

He told the Malay newspaper that Mydin can only afford to keep prices of the meals low for the first three months.

Things could change after depending on prices of raw ingredients, he said, while noting that smaller stalls face a higher risk of cost overruns and may not be able to sustain the programme.

"When the menu was just started some suggested it would be [half-baked] but I guarantee for the first three months it will be stable.

"After that it depends on the condition of the economy. If there are no price increases of raw ingredients then we can sustain Menu Rahmah forever,” Ameer was quoted as saying.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who is also finance minister had vowed to address living cost pressure, pledging that it would be his top priority amid shaky public confidence in his choice of Cabinet line-up after he appointed several leaders from past administrations accused of poor management of the economy.

The menu was launched on January 31 by the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub as part of the Unity Government’s short-term effort to mitigate the inflation squeeze on low-income earners.

Around 12,000 premises have already offered Menu Rahmah, including restaurants affiliated with the Malaysian Indian Restaurant Owners Association, the Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Owners Association, Malaysia Singapore Coffee Shop Proprietors General Association, and Mydin supermarket outlets nationwide, Salahuddin said at the launch.