Those opposing targeted subsidies support smugglers, deputy minister says

SG BAKAP BY-ELECTION | A deputy minister has bashed critics of the government's subsidy rationalisation policy, accusing them of endorsing taxpayers' money being misused for unintended recipients, including foreign nationals.

Speaking at a Pakatan Harapan campaign rally in Sungai Duri, Penang last night, Deputy Works Minister Ahmad Maslan also accused them of supporting smuggling.

"If anyone does not support targeted subsidies, it means they support giving the people's money as subsidies to foreign residents in this country.

"If they don't support (targeted subsidies), it means they support mass smuggling to other countries... support industries that are not supposed to use subsidised diesel but steal it," he said.

There has been fierce opposition by political rival Perikatan Nasional over the government's decision to implement diesel subsidy rationalisation across Peninsular Malaysia.

Deputy Works Minister Ahmad Maslan

The criticism mainly centres on the potential impact on the cost of living as a result of blanket subsidies being removed due to perceived insufficient aid from Putrajaya to curb price hikes in the supply chain.

In lieu of blanket subsidies, the government is giving monthly cash transfers to eligible private users, farmers, and fisherfolk, while those in the transportation and logistics industries are getting subsidised rates through fleet cards.

‘Come back and vote’

Meanwhile, Ahmad - who is also an Umno supreme council member - urged outstation voters to come back to Sungai Bakap and participate in the upcoming July 6 polling day for the state constituency by-election.

Ahmad also urged the constituents to support Pakatan Harapan candidate Joohari Ariffin as the latter would serve as the bridge between the community and both federal and state governments.

"Because only the state government and federal government can solve our problems.

"The federal opposition can't solve them, let alone the state opposition - they definitely can't solve any problems," he added.

The upcoming Sungai Bakap state seat by-election in Penang will feature a head-to-head contest between PKR's Joohari and Abidin Ismail representing PN. - Mkini