PASIR GUDANG – The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry will allow the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) or police to carry out the appropriate investigation into the misappropriation of diesel subsidies of about RM10 billion.
Its minister Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub said such action is necessary if an internal investigation carried out by the ministry reveals that there has been a breach in the procedures during the past.
“Normally, the ministry will carry out an internal investigation first because we have an unit that will audit and investigate such offences. However, if there is a serious offence, we have no problem in referring the case to police or MACC.
“We will offer our full cooperation to ensure such misappropriation does not occur. This is because we do not want the issue to prolong when the budget is tabled in the future.
“The offences related to the misappropriation of diesel subsidy should not be a part of any other report,” he told reporters after opening a Young Entrepreneurs Programme 2023 (PUM23) at Politeknik Sultan Ibrahim, here, today.
He said the ministry will work with agencies and other ministries, including the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry as well as the Malaysian Fisheries Development Board that act as authorities to control and distribute diesel subsidies to fishermen.
Yesterday, Salahuddin was reported as saying that the ministry had formed a special action team headed by the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry’s chief-secretary Datuk Azman Mohd Yusof to investigate flaws in diesel subsidy.
On Friday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim when tabling the Budget 2023 revealed that there were flaws in the diesel subsidy issue to a tune of RM10 billion last year.
Speaking on the Rahmah initiative by the government, Salahuddin, who is also Pulai MP, said the implementation of the programme by the ministry does not involve any public funds but carried out through the support of the people who are keen to tackle the rising cost of living issue collectively.
He added that the ministry was also studying various mechanisms that can be used to overcome the rising cost of living issue in the long term, including working with agencies and other ministries.
“To be honest, I am still not satisfied with the efforts…therefore, I will continue to pursue ways and means to improve the structure of the Rahmah initiative so that the programme can remain a permanent feature to raise the people’s income,” he said.
Meanwhile, Salahuddin said the PUM23 participated by 600 students who are majoring in technical studies is aimed at encouraging the students to choose entrepreneurship as their choice of career in an effort to prevent brain drain. – Bernama, February 26, 2023
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