PADANG BESAR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has lashed out at opposition leaders for politicising the Madani government's move to save billions of ringgits public funds through subsidies rationalisation.
Anwar defended that his administration's aim is to find ways to ensure that the targeted subsidies distribution will directly benefit the 85 per cent of eligible Malaysians instead of the super-rich citizens and over 3.5 million migrants.
"Yes, we do have issues with cost of living. Some quarters claimed that I have denied this but I have never denied that.
"I went down to the bazaar, I asked them about the (goods) prices. Yes, there are problems, but let's not deny (the government's efforts) with the politically clouded statements.
"In reality the price of (palm oil) cooking oil is much lower as compared to two years ago.
"That is a fact. Hence, for those who are stirring up political sentiment, they should also look at themselves in the mirror.
Don't just simply condemn the government while in fact, when they were in the government, things were even worse," Anwar said in his speech at the state level Madani Breaking the Fast Ceremony at Masjid Nurul Huda in Felda Chuping here today.
Present were Perlis Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli and Felda chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek.
Citing an example, Anwar said the Madani government has successfully brought down the retail price of processed chicken and eggs, even after withdrawing subsidies to chicken breeders to save the public funds.
"Prior to this, the government injected RM1 billion subsidy a year to keep the ceiling price of processed chicken but the price still skyrocketed.
"But after we have a stern warning against the cartels not to fool around, we withdrew the RM1 billion subsidy, at the end the price of (processed) chicken is still lower (that before)," he said.
In response to critics on why the Madani government is still not bringing down the fuel price as he had promised before, Anwar said it could not be done because of the current high price of global crude oil.
"The fuel price in Malaysia now is RM2.05 (per litre) as compared to between RM4 and RM5 (per litre) in Thailand and Indonesia.
"In Saudi Arabia, it used to be sold at 50 sen per litre but the price there is now even more expensive than in Malaysia.
"As such, we need to find ways to make use of the targeted subsidies so that benefits from the subsidies will be channel back directly to the 80 and 85 per cent Malaysians, but not the 15 per cent super-rich citizens and over 3.5 million migrants in this country," he said.
Anwar also brushed off claims by opposition parties that the majority of the people are burdened by the government's move to hike up the electricity tariff.
"We increased the electricity tariff, there was havoc on the ground although the electricity tariff for the (majority) people was not increased.
"The hike is specifically targeted on the 15 per cent super rich. So, what's the fuss all about? We are wakil rakyat that represent the people on the ground or the rich towkays (businessmen)?"
"As for diesel, we know very well that the fishing vessels from Thailand have been using our (subsidised) diesel due to smuggling activity that have been taking place for decades, creating leakages of tens of billions of ringgit a year. This has to be stopped," he said.
Anwar also assured the people that the targeted subsidies move will not affect the civil service, Felda transports, fishermen, school buses and government agencies.
He added that he is open to views and constructive criticism in increasing the government revenue but it has to be done through a competent administrative approach.