BUKIT MERTAJAM: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called into question the citizenship status of those who continuously attack the government's efforts to rationalise electricity tariff rates for the wealthy and foreigners.
Anwar said he was puzzled as to why they had to be a spokesperson for the two groups in relation to the new subsidy plan.
"When electricity prices rise, people (opposition MPs) attack me relentlessly even though the increase involves only 15 per cent of the richest people and foreigners.
"We should not burden ordinary citizens with electricity price hikes. So, what kind of representative are you (opposition MPs)? Representatives of Bangladesh, Burma (Myanmar) or Malays in Malaysia?
"If you are Malaysian representatives, you should know that the tariffs we raise are not for ordinary citizens, but for the wealthiest and foreigners only."
Anwar said this at the Jualan Termurah Madani programme in Bandar Perda, here, today.
He emphasised that the rationalisation was one of the government's steps in subsidy targeting, and had previously said that government subsidies for the people — including electricity, oil, and food — are expected to reach RM81 billion this year.
He said that despite the high figure, reducing subsidies is not an option because it would burden low-income earners.
However, he said, the government needs to present a more effective and realistic policy to save the country's economy through rationalising subsidy provisions.