Diesel subsidy targeting is expected to be implemented this year, said Armizan

TUMPAT: The implementation of subsidy targeting involving diesel in the peninsula is expected to be implemented this year, said the Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN), Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.

Berita Harian reported that he said the matter would be announced by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim soon.

“We expect the Prime Minister to announce soon, the implementation of the targeted diesel subsidy, (God willing) will be implemented this year.

“However, I would like to point out that the government is not removing the subsidy, but instead targeting the subsidy to those who qualify.

“At the same time, with the implementation of the targeted subsidy, smuggling involving diesel will decrease since the price in Malaysia and Thailand is not much different, compared to before,” he said.

He said this at a press conference after visiting the border at Sungai Golok, here, today. Also present was Kelantan KPDN Director, Azman Ismail.

He explained that from the KPDN side, they have been making preparations since the beginning after the matter was announced in last year’s Budget.

He said, in terms of system and data integration, his party is ready and has already done a pilot project before the implementation of diesel targeting begins.

The media previously reported that the Cabinet agreed to implement the targeting of fuel subsidies starting with diesel involving consumers in the Peninsula.

The Prime Minister is reported to have said, with this diesel subsidy targeting effort, the total savings to the government is expected to be (roughly) around RM4 billion a year.

He said, to begin with, the targeting of diesel subsidies will only involve users in the peninsula.