Deputy finance minister expresses regret over the matter and denies announcing any new government policy during the event.
Earlier today, media reports quoted Liew as saying the government could potentially reduce the monthly RON95 quota under the BUDI95 programme from 200 litres to 150 litres amid global fuel supply concerns linked to the Middle East conflict.
In a Facebook post today, Liew said he did not announce any new government policy or propose a 150-litre monthly fuel limit during the fireside chat at an Affin Bank event in Kuala Lumpur earlier today.
“It’s unfortunate that what I said was taken out of context,” he said.
“At no point did I announce anything on behalf of the government, and at no point did I announce the 150-litre limit as a potential government policy.
“I regret that my comments have caused a media storm and I hope all will consider the full context of what I said.”
Liew said his comments were made in the context of discussing the government’s broader strategy to manage the global energy crisis, adding that the BUDI95 mechanism was a useful tool as it provided data to better understand Malaysians’ travel and fuel consumption patterns.
He also stressed the need for society to build consensus on reducing fuel consumption to ensure long-term fuel supply security.
The BUDI95 programme was introduced at the end of September to ensure that RON95 petrol subsidies benefit only eligible Malaysians, while curbing leakages to foreigners and commercial entities.
When the programme was introduced, Malaysian citizens aged 16 and above who possessed a valid driving licence could purchase up to 300 litres of RON95 petrol per month at the subsidised price of RM1.99 per litre.
However, in March, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that the 300-litre monthly quota would be reduced to 200 litres as an interim measure in dealing with the impact of the Middle East conflict. - FMT
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