KUALA LUMPUR – A study, which aims to ensure a cooking oil subsidy can be optimised and ascertain that its distribution reaches the target group, is expected to be completed next year, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said the study, which began last October, is assessing the effectiveness of the implementation of the existing subsidy programme, covering the effectiveness of delivery, implementation mechanism, degree of leakages, and costs involved.
“The next step is to propose a new mechanism to be implemented as a measure to increase the effectiveness of subsidy delivery to the target group,” he said during Ministers’ Question Time.
He was responding to a question from Datuk Robert Lawson Chuat (Betong-GPS) who wanted to know the steps the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry will take in the future so that the cooking oil subsidy and other subsidies under the ministry’s regulations can be optimised in reaching the target group.
Nanta said the study covers the main subsidy programmes of the ministry, including the cooking oil price stabilisation scheme, general-purpose wheat flour subsidy, essential goods distribution, and price standardisation for Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan.
“The government is concerned with the welfare of the rural community, specifically in getting basic necessities.
“The government will remain committed to maintaining existing subsidy programmes to ensure that rural communities will be able to enjoy the same prices as in the city, without having to bear the costs of transportation and distribution,” he added. – Bernama, November 17, 2021
