KUALA LUMPUR: Putrajaya will not reduce any existing subsidies and aid, amidst the Middle East conflict, says deputy Finance Minister Liew Chin Tong.
“This is the government’s current position,” he told the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday(July 16).
This is despite the government having to foot a projected RM40bil in subsidies for petroleum and petroleum products for 2026 due to the Middle East conflict.
Liew said with Budi 95, the people were shielded from the impacts of the conflict.
“The people paid RM1.99 although the actual price in March and April was RM5 a litre,” he added.
He said the government was able to ensure that Malaysians had fuel supplies when other countries had to queue up for oil, aside from maintaining the price during the crisis.
He was responding to a supplementary question by Mohd Sany Hamzan (PH-Hulu Langat) on whether the government had plans to reduce assistance such as Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah, Sara and assistance for school-going students.
