KUCHING, Oct 11: The people of Sabah and Sarawak will benefit from the blanket subsidy of having RON95 capped at RM2.08.
Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii took swipe at Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) lawmakers and ministers for criticising the Pakatan Harapan federal government for leaving out Sarawak from the fuel subsidy scheme.
Defending Putrajaya’s decision to implement the new subsidy scheme in the peninsula, Dr Yii said the total subsidy amount under the general subsidy system was much more than the subsidy amount under the targeted subsidy system.
Sarawak and Sabah would definitely benefit from maintaining the existing general subsidy system, he added.
“They should give credit where it is due, as the decision to exclude Sarawak and Sabah was so that people of the two states would continue to enjoy a blanket subsidy and having RON 95 capped at RM2.08.
“However, they have somehow chosen to either remain ignorant, or try to mislead the people on the matter itself,” he said in a statement today.
Dr Yii pointed out that Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, had clearly explained that if oil prices dropped below RM2.08, the government will float the oil price to market value, thus the people can enjoy lower fuel price.
“This special consideration and preferential treatment is given to Sabah and Sarawak because of the Pakatan government’s recognition of the special position of Sabah and Sarawak in the federation, as well as its contribution to the federation,” he said.
“In terms of diesel subsidy, it will be announced by the ministry on a later date but we are pushing for same mechanism to be adopted,” he added.
Dr Yii reminded that during the time of Barisan Nasional, once the petrol price increased, the whole of Malaysia would increase.
In comparison, he said before the 2018 elections, from January to March, the petrol price averaged at about RM 2.29 before it was capped in April at RM 2.20 before the election.
“At that time, we all have to pay that same high price for both East and West Malaysia.
“Even with six full ministers (from Sarawak) in the federal Cabinet during the time of the Barisan, East Malaysia was never given special consideration and did not enjoy lower petrol price compared to the rest of Malaysia,” he said.
The state ruling GPS coalition was part of the Barisan Nasional but left after Pakatan took over Putrajaya following GE14. — DayakDaily
