SCHOOL buses and public transport will not be affected by the soon-to-be implemented targeted diesel subsidy so as to avoid fare hikes, Deputy Finance Minister Ahmad Maslan said.

He said the initiative will begin when the subsidised diesel control system is completed in the second half of this year. 

“We will try to complete the system before we can launch the targeted subsidy initiative, but the targeted subsidy for diesel will not be applied to school buses and public transport as we do not want any increase in fares,” he said. 

Ahmad said this to reporters after launching the Public Sector Home Financing Board e-counter and client’s charter in Putrajaya today, also attended by the board’s chief executive officer Mohd Farid Nawawi. 

Ahmad said the targeted petrol subsidy on the other hand will be expedited, with a special committee looking into implementation methods.

“Yesterday, some MPs mentioned that not everyone in the T20 group should be excluded from getting the subsidy as the T20 group earning RM10,000 in Kuala Lumpur differs from the T20 group earning RM10,000 in Pontian. The pressure for the T20 in Kuala Lumpur is definitely higher. 

“This is among details that require scrutiny before the government can decide to implement the targeted petrol subsidy,” he said. 

Ahmad said if the targeted subsidy for fuel (petrol, diesel and gas) is implemented for only the B40 and M40 groups, the government would be able to save up to RM17 billion. – Bernama, March 31, 2023.