KUALA LUMPUR: There is no policy paper yet to implement subsidy rationalisation for RON95 fuel, said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister told the Dewan Rakyat that while there had been previous studies on subsidy rationalisation for RON95 fuel, the government now intends to evaluate the returns of rationalising subsidies on electricity, chicken, and diesel.
"We will look at its impacts first, and the people's reaction, then we can discuss to see if there is a need (to rationalise RON95 subsidy).
"What's important is that we must stop giving subsidies to the very rich and foreigners. I will not compromise on that."
He was responding to a supplementary question from Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (Perikatan Nasional-Pasir Mas) who asked whether the government planned to implement subsidy rationalisation on RON95 fuel.
Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, however said he did not discount any possibility of the government implementing more targeted subsidy rationalisations in the future.
"I don't discount any possibility. What I can say now, is our whole focus is on diesel subsidy rationalisation.
"If you ask me, (subsidy rationalisation) on RON 95 should have been implemented a long time ago, but it is not easy.
"Over 3.8 million foreigners use this petrol, people who drive Rolls Royce also use this petrol that we subsidise. So how do we solve this? It's been years."
He said any government when in power agreed that there was a need to implement subsidy rationalisation, but did not have the will to do so, for fear of political repercussions.
The Tambun member of parliament added that no government in the past or political party opposed the initiative.
"When they were in government, all of them said 'yes, it's good, but wait, we are not ready'... (this is) because they know the political implications," said Anwar.
He also responded to criticisms by the opposition whom he claimed continued to manipulate the issue by saying that subsidy rationalisation burdened the people.
"I understand that maybe in terms of implementation, you can dispute. This I can accept.
"But all we hear now is claims that the government is 'zalim' (oppressive), taking away subsidies," he added.