Targeted subsidy, PM Anwar's biggest political gamble

China Press led with a report of a woman successfully obtaining a claim of RM16.44 million due to brain damage that affected the speech and swallowing ability of her husband. Her husband suffered due to a car crash involving three cars on the North-South Expressway on 12 February 2018.

The discontentment and grievances due to the fluctuation of diesel prices that came about after the government introduced targeted subsidies have led to businesses raising prices.

Nanyang reported that authorities have warned against unjustified price hikes. Towing companies and concrete producers have raised charges or prices following the diesel price hike, the daily added.

Sin Chew Daily headlined that truck and lorry operators received verbal notifications from five oil companies that, starting from June 10th until the end of this month, businesses with diesel cards under the Subsidised Diesel Control System (SKDS) will receive unlimited subsidies.

The savings of RM4 billion from adjusting diesel subsidies would be reallocated to public transportation and Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah, instead of raising minister’s salaries, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who is also Finance Minister, Kwong Wah front paged.

Guang Ming Daily led with Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying yesterday confirmed that fleet cards provided for 23 types of transportation will have a refuelling diesel limit. Details will be announced by Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan.

Editorial

Sin Chew Daily highlighted that the targeted diesel subsidy policy price adjustment wasn’t just a price hike. It is meant to align domestic prices with international ones.

The adjusted price of RM3.35 per litre is only 57% of the international average of RM5.90.

The adjustment was done to alleviate national financial pressure and accumulate assistance funds for the poor.

Confusion may arise during the process, but it’s important to continually adjust it in accordance with public opinion and conduct more simulations before implementing future policies, it said.

Nanyang Daily highlighted that after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced the targeted diesel subsidy must listen to various reactions as this is his biggest political gamble since taking office, which could hand bullets to the opposition in the upcoming by-elections, said the daily. The people will also face heavier financial burdens, the daily added

Anwar’s “for the country” statement and the Finance Ministry’s targeted subsidies lack sufficient persuasiveness and practical efficiency, said the daily.

He must come up with another major move in the short term to avoid public grievances, which could then affect his government, said the daily.