Targeted subsidy delay will cost govt RM2b for petrol monthly

The government will have to bear at least RM2 billion a month for blanket petrol subsidies if it continues to delay implementing targeted subsidies, said Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli.

He said the government needs to stick to the scheduled restructuring of bulk subsidies to targeted subsidies this year as announced in the last budget.

As such, he said the government does not intend to extend the March 31 deadline for registering and updating information on the Central Database Hub (Padu).

“It would be better if this RM2 billion (per month) was channelled in the form of assistance to (deserving) families,” he said during a Padu public dialogue session in Shah Alam, Selangor today.

Also present were Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari and Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu.

Meanwhile, Rafizi said the government was also considering the distribution of aid via direct monthly cash transfers.

Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli

He said the reform of social aid distribution to the people, which had never been offered before, could be implemented through Padu and that the method was also expected to provide additional income to aid recipients.

- Bernama