Ministry Ready To Call In Macc After Diesel Subsidy Probe

---

 
A police seizure of subsidised diesel in Simpang Empat, Nibong Tebal, last December. (Bernama pic)PASIR GUDANG: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission or the police will be called in if an internal investigation by the domestic trade and cost of living ministry uncovers misappropriation of the government’s diesel subsidy last year.
The diesel subsidy costs the government RM10 billion.
The minister, Salahuddin Ayub, said the ministry would usually carry out an internal investigation first “because we have a unit that will audit and investigate such offences.
“However, if there is a serious offence, we have no problem in referring the case to the police or MACC. We will offer our full cooperation to ensure such misappropriation does not occur,” he said.
Salahuddin said the ministry would work with other agencies and ministries, including the agriculture and food security ministry and the Malaysian fisheries development board (LKIM) who control and distribute the diesel subsidy to fishermen.
Yesterday, Salahuddin said the ministry had formed a special task force, headed by the ministry’s secretary-general Azman Mohd Yusof, to investigate flaws in the diesel subsidy programme.
Problems with the diesel subsidy were revealed by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Friday when tabling the 2023 federal budget. He said there were leakages in the implementation of diesel subsidies.
Rahmah meals initiative to be improved
Salahuddin said the implementation of the Rahmah programme of RM5 set meals does not involve any public funds but was carried out through the support of people who were keen to tackle the rising cost of living issue collectively.
“To be honest, I am still not satisfied with the efforts carried out. Therefore, I will continue to pursue ways and means to improve the structure of the Rahmah initiative so that the programme can remain a permanent feature to raise the income of the people,” he said.
He said the ministry was also studying various mechanisms that can be used to overcome the rising cost of living in the long-term. - FMT

---