PUTRAJAYA: The Rural and Regional Development Ministry is restructuring its projects and plans for this year to prioritise those that mesh with efforts to cope with the current global fuel crisis, says its minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, said this would help overcome some problems surrounding the increase in fuel and energy costs.
"We are taking proactive steps in terms of income generation among small and medium entrepreneurs, especially in improving the macro entrepreneurism," he told the media after the ministry's monthly assembly here on Thursday (April 2).
"It is not a form of a subsidy by the government but to overcome the increasing cost of fuel.
"We expect savings on several programmes, (but)... these are not to reduce or shrink what has been planned. We are restructuring the conditions for carrying them out."
On the demand for diesel subsidy by fishermen, Ahmad Zahid said the government will meet the National Action Council on Cost of Living (Naccol) today and the National Economic Action Council on Tuesday (April 7) to discuss the details.
On Wednesday (April 1), Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the government is spending RM4bil monthly to buffer the impact of rising fuel costs amid tensions in the Middle East.
Ahmad Zahid said this was a heavy burden on the country, and urged all parties to be rational and accept reality.
"This is not due to domestic factors but due to the crisis in the Middle East. This will be clarified by the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry.
"We should be... in crisis mode instead of getting too comfortable and waiting for the government. This is a global crisis that we must face together.
"We prioritise the critical projects... to ensure they are not abandoned.
"We will find ways to restructure their implementation," he added.
Additionally, he said the subsidy request for Zone C2 category fishing boats will also be discussed in the Naccol and MTEN meetings.
He urged those politicising the matter to go to the Strait of Hormuz or visit any Middle Eastern country and witness the situation for themselves.
He said Malaysia could be considered lucky, and certain quarters should stop using a global problem to blame the government.
"This is the reality we have to accept and I tell you not to point fingers... we should find a way together.
"We will also be meeting with mentris besar and chief ministers this evening so that state governments can delve deeper into the global crisis," he said.
