PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has reiterated that the fuel subsidy rationalisation plan is aimed at the wealthy and foreigners.
He said Malaysians who were affected would receive government assistance.
The prime minister was responding to Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin, who had criticised the plan.
Anwar said he could not understand why Hamzah was “defending the rich and foreigners”, who would no longer benefit from fuel subsidies.
"Will Perikatan Nasional continue to provide subsidies to the rich and foreigners (if it comes into power)? he was quoted as saying by New Straits Times today.
On Tuesday, in a nationwide address, Anwar announced that introduction of targeted diesel subsidies in Peninsular Malaysia.
He said Sabah and Sarawak would be exempt for now.
Subsidised diesel is priced at RM2.15 per litre.
To prevent an increase in the prices of goods, 10 types of public transport vehicles and 23 types of goods transport vehicles will continue to enjoy diesel subsidies.
On Wednesday, Hamzah said Anwar had failed to address a big problem in his national address.
“The elephant in the room is: when will the rationalisation of the fuel subsidy be enforced and how will it reach the people?” the Perikatan Nasional secretary-general said in a statement.
“The people want to know: when will the price of fuel go up? After months, this government is still practising the principle of ‘announce first, then think’.
“His message does not bring relief to the people, who are being squeezed by the rise in the cost of living. It confuses and angers them when it is served with rhetoric to justify Anwar’s failure to keep his promises before coming to power,”
Anwar today said it is the prime minister who announces a policy and his ministers who follow up.
"He has been a minister; why is he asking questions like that?" Anwar said. – May 24, 2024.
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