Increased food prices bites

BRUNEIANS are feeling the pinch of higher food prices, with some wishing for higher pay just to cope with the increased cost of living.

Hadi, who works for a subsidiary company under the government, said, he was thankful he was better off than some.

"I am lucky in the sense that I am single and that my parents are well off."

But he said it was necessary for companies, especially those from the private sector, to increase the pay of their employees to help them cope with rising prices.

Father of three, Mohd Saidin, who works in the private sector, said, "We are coping even though there hasn't been any significant increase in our pay."

He said additional income from his wife and eldest son helps lighten his burden significantly.

"We are already used to the high standard of living here so we have no choice but to spend more to continue buying the stuff we want," he said.

He told The Brunei Times that their family has been affected mostly by the rise in the prices of canned food and other products such as Milo.

The cost of food and non-alcoholic beverages rose in October from the previous month due to the higher prices of flour, noodles, biscuits, fresh beef, frozen beef, fresh fish, milk, eggs, fresh vegetables, fresh tropical fruits, sauces and soups, according to the Department of Economic Planning and Development Board.

It said inflation rose 0.8 per cent in October from September. The rise was also attributed to some prices reverting to their original levels after the Brunei Grand Sale ended on October 5, the government report said.

Leon, a 24-year-old sales representative, who joined the workforce immediately after his completion of Form Five a few years ago, is one of those feeling the rise in inflation. "It is much harder to afford things now."

He said he was struggling to keep up with his expenses especially since as a salesman, a major part of his job requires meeting with clients usually for casual meals.

"The food in some places have risen $3.00 to $3.20, which makes a big difference if you have to entertain multiple clients day in and day out," he said. "We just have to try to spend less unnecessarily and hope for the best."

A member of the police force, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Brunei Times that he had received a pay rise only two months ago so he was not as hard up as some. He said he knew of some families who were struggling financially.

He said those supporting a large family will particularly be vulnerable because of the higher prices.