DEPUTY Finance Minister II Steven Sim Chee Keong said the government still bears a total of RM10.8 billion of the electricity subsidy, compared with the original amount of RM14.9 billion.  

He said there was a saving of RM4 billion for the period from January to June this year involving electricity subsidy. 

From January 2023, the government no longer provided full electricity tariff subsidies to large companies with high electricity consumption. 

“More targeted and sustainable subsidy management is a priority, in ensuring that government expenditure can be channelled to development needs which can provide higher added value to the national economy. 

“The government is also studying the implementation of targeted subsidy based on appropriate and feasible models by identifying methods which are not only effective but also save time, and have minimal financial implications for the government,” he said when winding up his debate in Dewan Negara’s special session on the 12th Malaysia Plan mid-term review today.  

Sim said in the context of determining eligible recipients, it was necessary to diversify, because the types of subsidies and user groups are different. 

“The determination of eligibility criteria is still under evaluation because it is very important to be carefully studied so that the distribution of resources is made more efficiently while at the same time reducing exclusion and inclusion errors. 

“Accordingly, a special task force, which has been established under the Ministry of Finance, is studying the mechanism for implementing appropriate targeted subsidies which involve all community groups, whether B40, M40, or T20, both in cities and rural areas,” he said. – Bernama, September 25, 2023.