Govt To Phase In Retargeting Of Subsidies For Essential Goods

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 (Bernama) -- The government will review the phased implementation of retargeting subsidies and assistance for other subsidised goods, including sugar, rice, and cooking oil.

Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying said the move aims to prevent leakages and ensure subsidies are enjoyed only by those who truly need them, similar to the targeted approach implemented for diesel subsidies and the Budi Madani Ron95 (Budi95) initiative.

“For now, the government’s priority is to ensure the smooth implementation of the targeted diesel fuel subsidy and Budi95 programmes, which will serve as the foundation for broader subsidy retargeting,” she said during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.

She was responding to a supplementary question from Syerleena Abdul Rashid (PH–Bukit Bendera) on the government’s plans to expand targeted subsidies to other essential goods such as sugar, cooking oil, and rice.

Meanwhile, Deputy Economy Minister Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib said the Central Database Hub (PADU) has compiled 30.4 million profiles of Malaysian citizens and permanent residents since its launch in January 2024.

She said 17 applications for PADU data usage had been approved for policy formulation and programme implementation as of Oct 31, 2025.

“One recent example is the use of PADU data as a reference for the Budi95 initiative.

“Other agencies approved to use PADU data include the Ministry of Works, the National Digital Department, the Department of Higher Education, and the Department of Skills Development,” she said.

She was responding to a question from Datuk Idris Ahmad (PN–Bagan Serai) on the study of PADU’s effectiveness in implementing targeted subsidies before the initiative is expanded nationwide.

The question also covered the number of verified recipients and mitigation measures to prevent the systemic or technical exclusion of those in the B40 and M40 income groups.

-- BERNAMA