RM2 billion subsidy for petrol, diesel prices — Chong
KUCHING: The Pakatan Harapan ( PH) federal government has subsidised more than RM2 bi l lion for petrol and diesel prices since taking over from the previous Barisan Nasional ( BN) administration in May.
Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Chong Chieng Jen said despite increase in international oil prices during the four-month period, the government has adhered to its manifesto to maintain the price of RON95 and diesel.
“The government has, from May to August, subsidised RM1.3 billion for petrol and RM807 million for diesel, making it a total of more than RM2 billion.
“The message I would like to send out there is that had there been no change of government, the people would be paying an extra RM2 billion for petrol.
“But due to the change of government, we adhere to stabilising the petrol prices, and therefore the people need not pay this extra amount in the last four months,” he told a press conference after leading the ministry’s Ops Catut 5.0 together with Customs Department to conduct checks on prices of goods at Everrise BDC here yesterday.
In June, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng announced that the federal government has allocated RM3 billion to subsidise petrol prices until the end of the year.
He said the government had also fixed the retail price of RON95 at RM2.20 per liter, and diesel at RM2.18 per liter for the rest of the year.