KUALA LUMPUR: The giving of fuel subsidy through the Petrol Subsidy Programme (PSP) is the right move by the government to ensure that the aid benefits only the B40 group, said Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
He said this is to prevent ineligible groups from enjoying the fuel subsidy from the government.
“Studies have shown that there are people owning six cars who benefit from the fuel subsidy and that is why we are giving for only one car from the B40 group.
“We cannot give subsidy to the rich, and we see that under the old subsidy those using
luxury cars like Rolls-Royce also get the subsidy.
“This is the right kind of aid targeted at those who need it, not where those with luxury cars also enjoy fuel subsidy from the government,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby here yesterday.
Dr Mahathir was commenting on Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail’s announcement yesterday that the PSP, which will be implemented on Jan 1 next year, would ease the burden of some 2.9 million recipients of Bantuan Sara Hidup (BSH) who have cars in peninsular Malaysia. –Bernama