PUTRAJAYA, June 12 — Activities believed to be related to diesel smuggling have reduced, particularly along peninsular borders, said Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.
He said observations by enforcement personnel found that diesel purchases have dropped at several fuel stations in Rantau Panjang, Kelantan, and Wang Kelian, Perlis.
“Smuggling activities (of diesel) have been successfully curbed due to the implementation of the targeted subsidy,” he told reporters at a media conference after the Cabinet meeting here today.
Diesel price at all fuel stations in Peninsular Malaysia costs RM3.35 per litre from Monday, which is the unsubsidised market price based on the Automatic Pricing Mechanism for May.
Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, when announcing the price hike on Sunday, said the implementation of the targeted subsidy will save the country RM4 billion annually and strengthen its financial position in the long term.
The Unity Government spokesman said the targeted subsidy issue was raised during the Cabinet meeting, with stern warnings to be issued to those planning to raise goods prices, including sectors that previously did not receive the diesel subsidy but were trying to take advantage of the current situation.
“The public posted letters (on social media platforms) claiming the costs of several products and services will rise as the relevant sectors no longer receive diesel subsidies, but upon checking, those sectors were not eligible to receive the subsidy in the first place.
“We leave it to the KPDN (Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry) to impose stern action. The Cabinet has issued warnings to those taking advantage by raising prices, especially when the government has stressed that price hikes, particularly in the food and beverage and daily necessities sectors, should not occur,” he said.
Fahmi said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has requested a review of issues related to the Subsidised Diesel Control System (SKDS) 2.0 under KPDN, and the immediate distribution of fleet cards to all applicants.
He said applicants who have yet to receive the fleet cards should retain their receipts and follow the process announced by Amir Hamzah to claim the diesel subsidy for vehicles registered under SKDS.
SKDS is a platform for select public and goods vehicles to receive diesel subsidies through the fleet card.
On the application for the subsidy from transport operators for tourists, Fahmi said Anwar has requested the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry and the Transport Ministry to look into the matter.
“This means that if any party feels government intervention is necessary and if it is deemed appropriate, efforts will be made to assist them,” he said.
Fahmi urged netizens to refrain from going overboard in arguing about issues on social media, referring to an incident where someone was threatened for supporting the government’s targeted diesel subsidy.
— Bernama
