Ministries, agencies have 2 weeks to discuss subsidies

 

Anwar Ibrahim at the press conference after chairing a meeting by the National Action Council on Cost of Living in the Prime Minister’s Office.

PUTRAJAYA: The relevant ministries and agencies will have two weeks to analyse and discuss targeted subsidies for the people, says Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar said the priority was to ease the burden of the people, especially those in the lower income bracket, in view of the rise in the price of goods and cost of living.

“I will give two weeks (to the relevant ministries and agencies) to evaluate all the implications (of targeted subsidies) and discuss with the private sector and investors so that all involved will understand that the purpose of subsidies is to ease the burden of the poor,” he said.

He was speaking at a press conference after chairing a meeting by the National Action Council on Cost of Living with government departments and agencies.

Chief secretary to the government Zuki Ali, Bank Negara Malaysia governor Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus, officials from the statistics department, domestic trade and consumer affairs ministry, agriculture and food industries ministry, and energy and natural resources ministry were among those present at the meeting.

Anwar said once the Cabinet was formed, the relevant ministers would then discuss their findings with their officers and the agencies under their purview before presenting the results in a Cabinet meeting.

He added that he had nothing against subsidies but they had to be implemented effectively to assist those who are most in need of them. - FMT