Price hikes during Ramadan are not due to the goods and services tax (GST), but rather due to public greed, said National Civic Bureau (BTN) chief Ibrahim Saad today.

Ibrahim said people bought more than what they needed during the fasting month, which led to high demand and low supply, thus the high prices.

"Normally we buy 3kg of rice, but during Ramadan we buy 10kg. Instead of one tray of eggs we buy three," he told some 100 civil servants and teachers at a talk on national issues in Sungai Besar today.

"Why do we buy so much during the fasting month? We're not eating, we're fasting.

"I know this happens because my wife does this too," he quipped.

He said national debt was also high due to people living beyond their means.

"Clerks want to live like they're department directors.

"In Malaysia, people want to buy three cars even though they have no money because the banks give them loans."

He said such excessive spending contributed to the national debt, which is made up of household debt, company debt, and government debt.

Ibrahim added that Malaysians lived in relative wealth, and thus should be grateful as many people wanted to be citizens of the country.

Other speakers at the event include 1MDB chief Arul Kanda Kandasamy and police counter-terrorism senior assistant director Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay.

BN's Sungai Besar candidate Budiman Mohd Zohdi also attended the event.