Targeted subsidy needs government willpower

In the immediate term, the government may reconsider the cash hand-out mechanism and introduce a fuel subsidy of RM100 into the BPR account holders in the short run. This can simplify the implementation as BPR’s mechanism is already in place and operating well.

ON Dec 13, 2022, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim instructed all government departments to formulate and develop suitable measures to implement targeted subsidies by taking into consideration the interest of consumers and the industries.

Despite the strong intention to implement targeted subsidy, the government(s) is (are) still struggling to prepare an ideal policy instrument then and now.