‘They don’t understand’: PM rebukes critics of S’wak, Sabah diesel subsidies

A car filling up diesel at a petrol station in Kuching. Photo credit: DayakDaily

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, May 4: Peninsular Malaysian politicians who criticise the federal government’s decision to maintain diesel subsidies in Sarawak and Sabah do not understand the demographic factors and transportation challenges there, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

According to TVS, he said the government’s decision is based on the realities of geography and transportation costs in the two regions, describing it as necessary to ensure the subsidies are better targeted while reducing leakages.

“The approach is important to ensure government assistance remains targeted without neglecting the needs of the people in those areas, especially farmers, fishermen and small traders.

“There are politicians in Peninsular Malaysia attacking us (the government) for allegedly giving excessive concessions to Sabah and Sarawak. They do not understand the demographic factors and transportation challenges there,” he said at the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry (NRES) monthly assembly in Putrajaya today.

He said that the targeted subsidy approach is balanced as it takes into account sectoral needs without affecting the livelihoods of the majority of the people. — DayakDaily