KUALA LUMPUR – Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz faced more criticism from opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, this time over the RM50 million subsidy reduction for padi farmers.
Debating Budget 2021 in Parliament today, Anwar said the people had applauded the subsidy figure without realising the reduction amount.
“Those who applauded did not realise that the subsidy for padi farmers has been reduced. Compared to 2020, Budget 2021 has reduced RM50 million in subsidies. Padi farmers are categorised as poor in Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu, Sabah, and Sarawak.
“However, their subsidy has been reduced and this will affect hundreds of thousands of B40 Malays and Bumiputeras whose families farm padi,” said Anwar.
He also called Zafrul out for reducing the allocation for the Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia (LKIM) by 36.19%.
Anwar said Zafrul had reduced RM37.6 million from LKIM’s budget, repurposed as a RM300 handout for fishermen.
“This 36.19% reduction will have an impact on the fishermen. The fishermen who heard the Budget 2021 speech will be happy that they will receive RM300 each.
“But in reality, it has been carved out of the appropriate allocation,” said Anwar. – The Vibes, November 9, 2020
