Minister: Targeted petrol, diesel subsidy scheme to start in April
PORT DICKSON: The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry is in the final phase to implement the targeted petrol and diesel subsidies which are expected to be introduced in April.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, said the Finance Ministry was selecting the right vendor to operate the system.
He said the ministry would work with the vendors involved to ensure the implementation of the targeted subsidies run smoothly as planned.
“The system to be used will need to be based on the specification required by the ministry and Finance Ministry, and can be used for other targeted subsidies in the future.
“We try to develop a multi-functional system.
“So, the selected vendors must be able to make systems that can be used for other purposes at other times.”
He said said the targeted petrol subsidies would be based on revenue lines.
“That’s the real goal of the targeted subsidies — it must reach the target group. The priority is the income line.”
He said that at the same time, relevant agencies, including the National Registration Department (NRD), had been tasked with finalising the recipients of the subsidies.
“The check is being carried out to get the real number of recipients (who are eligible for targeted petrol subsidies).
“Preparations are being made and they are on schedule,” he said.
He said 3,500 gas stations would be involved in the implementation of the targeted petrol subsidies.
He said that discussions were being held with various involved parties to ensure that the system would run smoothly as failure would cause a huge impact.