By Yee Mei
KUALA LUMPUR, May 21: Sarawak and Sabah are temporarily exempted from the Federal government’s move to rationalise subsidies for diesel, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“This is because many families in Sarawak and Sabah use diesel for daily transportation,” he said in his address, which was televised live nationwide earlier tonight.
He elaborated that the Federal government would start this initiative in Peninsular Malaysia first.
Anwar also added that diesel subsidies will be given to traders to prevent spikes in the cost of goods and services.
The subsidies will also involve ten public transportation vehicles and 23 goods transport vehicles which include bus and taxi operators and certain categories of fishermen.
“The people’s welfare will continue to be looked after to deal with the cost of living.
“Therefore, the government has agreed to provide cash assistance to eligible individual owners of diesel vehicles, including small farmers, paddy farmers, and small traders,” he said, stressing that the assistance will not benefit the T20 group.
With this diesel subsidy targeting effort, he said, the Federal government is expected to save approximately RM4 billion a year. — DayakDaily
