DAP lawmaker Lim Guan Eng has chided Umno’s Annuar Musa for claiming that the government was trying to help the poor when it decided to remove the subsidies for chicken, eggs and bottled cooking oil.

In a statement, the Bagan MP asked how the government is helping the poor (by removing subsidies) when prices of goods are increasing, adding that the Communications and Multimedia Minister must stop spreading fake news.

“The minister should show a good example by not spreading fake news that the government is not removing subsidies for chicken, eggs and bottled cooking oil but instead increasing their value to help ease the burden of folk affected by the current price hikes.”

“Annuar had said this one day after the announcement by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob of RM100 and RM50 additional aid to B40 households and unmarried individuals amounting to RM630 million to aid those affected by removal of subsidies for chickens, eggs and cooking oil(except for 1kg packets).

“Annuar’s claim that the government had decided to increase the subsidies’ value and review previous subsidies so the implementation will be more effective has no merit and is not supported by facts and figures. Even pro-government leaders had admitted that the removal of subsidies for chickens, eggs and cooking oil (except for 1kg packs) will save the government RM960 million,” he said.

On Thursday, the Ketereh MP said the government is not pulling the plug on the subsidies provided to the people, but it is increasing the subsidy value to help ease the burden of those affected by the current rising prices of goods.

According to him, the government was always concerned over the cost of living issues plaguing the people resulting in the channelling of RM43 billion worth of subsidies to the people for various things.

He was commenting on a video posted on Tik Tok which claimed that the government would withdraw all subsidies on July 31 which led to panic buying among the people.

On Wednesday, Ismail Sabri announced that the government would maintain the subsidy of RM4 billion for cooking oil in 1kg packets allocated for this year.

He said the subsidy, which began in June 2007, was provided by the government only for 1kg cooking oil packed in polybags priced at RM2.50 each, compared to the actual market price of RM9 each, and for the consumption of Malaysian families from the B40 group.

However on Friday, days after Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi said chicken prices will be floated from July 1 following the end of subsidies, Ismail said the government would announce a new ceiling price.

“Putrajaya has decided that the prices of chicken will not be floated in the market. Instead, the Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry will announce new ceiling prices soon.

Speaking further, Lim said the government in saving RM960 million, but giving RM630mil in additional aid, saves Putrajaya RM330 million at the expense of the poor suffering from high prices. 

“How then can Annuar claim that the government has decided to increase the subsidy value when RM960 million worth of subsidies for cooking oil, eggs and chickens are replaced by RM630mil in additional aid.”

“Either Annuar just does not know how to do Maths or is indulging in spinning fake news,” he said. – June 26, 2022.