PAS says continuing subsidies the only way to tackle price hike

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal

August 22, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 22 — PAS wants the government to continue doling out subsidies for the public in order to tackle rising global prices.

Party vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar believes that Putrajaya will not need to cut down on subsidies if it manages to curb “wastages” and leakages in government expenditure.

Mahfuz said it is the social responsibility of the government to subsidise healthcare, food, education. — File pic

He said today that aiding people through subsidies was the government’s “social responsibility”, and warned that a phasing out of subsidies will eventually result in possible electoral defeat for the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN).

“This is social responsibility of the government... subsidies for healthcare, food, education.

“Leakages in government expenditure should be used for subsidies... the failure of the government in managing the economy has resulted in the increase of living costs, items. Even if global prices were to increase, the government can still continue subsidies if it is smart,” the PAS leader told reporters here.

PAS’s anti-price hike campaign Protes BN, said Mahfuz, aims to highlight how the government has spent excessively for development projects instead of using the funds for subsidies.

“How can you lessen the subsidies for food and other essential items? Subsidies are the best way to distribute wealth among the people.

“The money wasted in excessive project spending... should instead be used for subsidies,” added the Pokok Sena MP.

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