Two alarming headline figures emerged last week: Food inflation in May rose 5.2% from a year earlier -- the highest in more than a decade; and that Malaysia is expected to spend more than RM77 billion in subsidies and cash aid this year -- the largest amount in Malaysia’s history. What would be the best course of action for the Government in dealing with the rising cost of living, but also in managing the strain on federal coffers? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Shahril Hamdan, Economic Director at the Prime Minister's Office.