THE Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry is discussing an identification system to enable the targeted purchase of subsidised diesel and RON95 petrol.
Deputy Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Senator Fuziah Salleh yesterday said this was in line with the planned launch of the centralised database (Padu) system, which would be used for targeted subsidies, set to be completed by the end of the year.
She said prior to this, ministries had different databases.
She said for targeted fuel subsidies, for example, the data would come from the Inland Revenue Board and the Road Transport Department.
"After accumulating data from these two agencies, only then can we identify who qualifies for the subsidy.
"To gather all these data, the main authority will lie with Padu, which will work with the Statistics Department to update and streamline the data.
"The use of special identification to buy subsidised fuel will indirectly help the ministry manage the sale of these items and curb the smuggling of petrol and diesel."
She said this after officiating at the Rahmah Sale for the Kota Baru parliamentary constituency and Tanjung Mas state constituency in Taman Desa Rahmat, Guchil Bayam, here.
Present was the ministry's state director Azman Ismail.
On another matter, Fuziah said claims that the prices of good would increase were not based on facts, as the consumer price index (CPI) and inflation had shown a decrease.
"For example, the CPI up to April was 3.3 per cent, and 2.8 per cent in May, which shows a downward trend.
"In November last year, it was at 4.0 per cent.
"What we can see here is the index recovering.
"We are confident that the price of goods will continue to stabilise.
"The rise and fall of prices of goods are also due to manufacturing costs, imports, foreign exchange and the weather."
She said the ministry would use the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 to ensure that there was no price gouging.