Wait for the Finance Minister II announcement of the diesel price float, says PM

KUALA LUMPUR: Wait for the announcement by Finance Minister II, Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, regarding the decision on whether diesel prices will be floated, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

“Wait for the announcement of MKII (Minister of Finance II),” he told reporters at the Islamic economic and financial forum, when asked about the possibility that the government will float diesel prices following the decision to implement the fuel subsidy targeting.

Regarding the industrialists’ request for the government to expand the list of diesel subsidy recipients, Anwar requested that the matter be referred to the Minister of Transport, Loke Siew Fook and the Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.

Commenting on the concern of restaurant operators that the increase in transport costs will be borne by consumers, the prime minister said the government had taken sufficient steps to deal with the matter.

In a message on May 21, Anwar said the Cabinet agreed to implement subsidy targeting on diesel, thereby saving the government around RM4 billion a year.

The targeting does not involve users in Sabah and Sarawak.

In addition, the government agreed to continue providing diesel subsidies to certain businesses that use diesel commercial vehicles to reduce the potential impact of sudden price increases on goods and services.