Muhyiddin Calls For A Halt In Fuel Subsidy Adjustment

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, chairman of Perikatan Nasional, has urged the government to postpone its plans to alter fuel subsidies, citing the need for a thorough assessment in Dewan Rakyat.

Muhyiddin also emphasised that given the rising cost of living and additional tax pressures on citizens, it would be preferable to postpone any changes to the subsidy structure. According to him, the subsidies provide fiscal issues, and the government must assess whether such removal will exacerbate the people's hardships.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, when presenting the 2024 Budget, had outlined a phased approach to rework the diesel subsidies to target specific groups like cargo transport companies, while others would face higher prices.

This decision alone has proven to impact the private vehicle sales of diesel pick-up trucks in Malaysia, which had previously been a popular option for urbanites.

Muhyiddin went on to express concern that such subsidy adjustments will inevitably result in higher pricing for all goods and services, increasing the public's burden.

He went on to criticise the government's recent actions to raise taxes and other fees, claiming that these measures did not consider the cumulative impact on the common citizen.

"The rise in the Sales and Service Tax, among other increases, seems to have been overlooked by the government as to its widespread impact on prices across the supply chain, affecting everyday people the most," he said.

Source: News Straits Times