Global Energy Crisis: Recovery Of RM15.5 Bln Revenue Helps Sustain Subsidy - PM Anwar

KOTA TINGGI, April 5 (Bernama) -- The RM15.5 billion in national revenue leakage that was recovered earlier has helped the government to some extent sustain subsidies for the people as the whole world faces a global energy crisis.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said strict enforcement by the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has enabled the government to recover the money to be channeled back to the people in need.

"In the past two years, we have collected the money that was lost, so the people, including in the villages and Felda, need to know, on how the leaked money lost in the hands of certain people was recovered.

"... we have to stop this, that's why we have to use political and social power to think how to defend the people's fate," he said when speaking at the Felda Semenchu ​​Settlers' Joint Programme here today.

Also present were Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform), Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said who is also the Pengerang MP, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan and the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek.

Anwar said the government is currently bearing a huge subsidy, reaching RM6 billion a month to make the RON95 petrol subsidy programme (BUDI95) a success as well as the provision of diesel subsidies to farmers, fishermen and public transport.

The Prime Minister did not rule out the possibility that the number would continue to increase if the global energy crisis continues.

Meanwhile, Anwar said Felda management needs to continue to be improved to restore and elevate Felda's prestige, which was previously linked to the problem of old debt burden.

He also assured that Felda's development agenda would continue to be strengthened, including aspects of education, basic facilities and the well-being of the settler community.

At the event, the Prime Minister announced an allocation of RM500,000 to upgrade basic facilities in Felda Semenchu, involving improvements to public facilities such as schools, mosques and infrastructure that directly benefit the residents.

-- BERNAMA