Fuel Subsidy Cut Baseless Report Don T Create Panic Fuziah

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Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry today dismissed a report claiming the government would scale back on fuel subsidies in June.
When contacted by Malaysiakini, its deputy minister Fuziah Salleh dismissed the report as "baseless".
"I hope no one tries to get ahead of the government on this matter because such a statement could create panic among the rakyat although it is baseless.
"Please wait for the government’s announcement.
"In the event the targeted subsidies mechanism is executed, the government will ensure that it won't burden the rakyat," Fuziah (above) said.
Earlier, the Singapore-based newspaper The Straits Times claimed that Putrajaya would start cutting fuel subsidies by next month, with diesel prices being the first to be floated to market rate.
After diesel, the retail rates for petrol will be increased in stages, it said.
“The question has always been when and how, not if, we cut the subsidy. The prime minister wants it by June, so we have to quickly decide on how,” said an unnamed government top official, as quoted by the news agency.
According to the report, Fuziah told them that the price hikes will happen “soon”, but did not give a specific time frame.
When pressed on the matter, the deputy minister told Malaysiakini, “Where did they get the date? The government didn’t say anything.”
Not discussed by cabinet
Meanwhile, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil also dismissed the report saying the issue was discussed by the cabinet before, including during last week’s meeting.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil“I have studied the matter carefully and can confirm that the matter was not discussed because I’m also a cabinet minister.
“Therefore, don't put the cart before the horse or don't announce before it has been announced.
"We are aware that several foreign-based media have pre-empted the process and I hope all parties, including the media, can obtain information from credible sources,” Bernama reported him as saying while reminding the media not to publish reports based on sources that have not been verified or identified.
“We saw recently that digital minister (Gobind Singh Deo) who was in Penang last April, spoke of the Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB), a week before that, there were foreign media reports that claimed the implementation of the 5G network was down and out. It was as if everything had been decided.
"A week after, Gobind announced that the number of DNB’s board of directors had been increased and the process was going on. Secondly, the issue of casino licence (issued in Johor) claiming it will be announced soon," he added. - Mkini

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