Govt holds back petrol subsidy scheme, Najib calls out ‘confused leaders’
PUCHONG: In a sudden turnaround, the government today announced the postponement of the Petrol Subsidy Programme (PSP), which was supposed to start next month.
In a statement today, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the PSP, which was scheduled to start next month, will be postponed to a later date.
“The decision was made during the Cabinet meeting on Dec 18.
“This is to allow the government some time to explain the programme to the public so that it will be accepted.
“The Finance Ministry also needs time to register subsidy receivers from the M40 group,” he said.
On Oct 7, the government announced that PSP will be implemented starting 2020. Under the programme, the B40 group will receive RM30 per month for car owners, while motorcyclists will receive RM12 a month.
However, the move received brickbats from the public, prompting the government to include the M40 group in the programme to appease the middle income people.
However, the government’s U-turn did not escape former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s eye.
The Pekan MP, in his usual sarcasm, poked fun at the government’s latest reversal in his Facebook post.
“This is a 100 metre U-turn. Neither here nor there. How many times has the Pakatan Harapan government made a policy, just to postpone or sit on it?
“Not only is the government confused, the rakyat are also left confused at the same time,” he said.
By Irman Hashim
