Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is seeking to scrap one-off goodies introduced by the previous BN government and not the monthly cost-of-living allowance for fishermen, Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Salahuddin Ayub said today.
Salahuddin said he had clarified the matter with Mahathir following what appeared to be conflicting statements between the two on the allowance.
"As a result of discussions between the agriculture ministry and the Prime Minister's Office, Mahathir confirmed that he was referring to 'one-off cash incentives' given by the BN government to fishermen.
"The prime minister's remarks do not touch on other aid including the cost-of-living allowance for fishermen which is one of the programmes under the (agriculture) ministry," Salahuddin said in a statement.
Earlier today, the Malay Mail published an interview in which Mahathir said Putrajaya would cut off the "salary" given to fishermen as the new Pakatan Harapan government did not have "stolen money" to give them.
“So we have to cut them off. They have lost a regular income for free. Because we cannot give that, so they are not going to be happy," the prime minister was quoted as saying.
This conflicted with Salahuddin's remarks at a press conference yesterday, assuring fishermen that the monthly allowance programme would not end under the new administration.
Under the allowance, fishermen receive between RM200 and RM300 to help them with the rising cost of living.
The programme was introduced in 2008. -Mkini
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