PM Anwar: No policy paper yet for RON95 fuel subsidy; focus on electricity, poultry and diesel
KUALA LUMPUR, July 2 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim reiterated today that no policy paper has been drafted yet to rationalise the subsidy on RON95 fuel.
Anwar, who is also the Tambun MP, disclosed that previous studies had been conducted.
He added however that the government’s current focus is on electricity, poultry, and targeted subsidies for diesel.
“These initiatives were undertaken over the past year, and we will assess their impact on the public before considering any expansions.
“Above all, we must cease subsidising the wealthy and foreigners,” he said during today’s Dewan Rakyat session.
He said this in response to Pasir Mas MP Ahmad Fadhli Shaari’s queries on whether the government will implement targeted subsidies on the petrol RON95 fuel.
Anwar, who is also the Tambun MP, said that the previous governments also had plans on the targeted subsidies.
This, however, was not implemented as they were aware of the political heat, he said.
Last June, Anwar had mentioned that there were no plans yet for the government to rationalise the subsidy on RON95 fuel.
It followed Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli’s statement made during an interview with Bloomberg at the World Economic Forum in Dalian, China, last month.
Rafizi had jokingly mentioned a ‘petrol surprise’ following the bulk diesel subsidy abolition.
The targeted diesel subsidy was effective on June 10, midnight at all retail stations in Peninsular Malaysia, at which the price was set at RM3.35 per litre.
