MEDIA STATEMENT: BN CUT SABAH SARAWAK BASIC FOOD SUBSIDIES BY 60%
PKR is very disappointed to note that the 1Malaysia 1Harga program has suffered a massive 60% reduction in budget 2015.
The 1Malaysia 1Harga program is intended to ensure that the prices of subsidised items of sugar, flour and cooking oil for Sabah and Sarawak are the same prices as that in Peninsular Malaysia.
The program had an allocation of RM85 million in 2014. However for 2015, the allocation has been dramatically reduced to RM33 million. This is a RM52 million cut and represents a 60% drop from previous allocation. In reply to our query, the Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism replied that for 2015 budget, the breakdown of subsidy is as such; sugar RM14.2 million, flour RM3.72 and cooking oil RM15 million.
The Minister then explained that the massive drop in budget is due largely to the drop in demand of cooking oil requirements in Sabah and Sarawak. This answer is nonsensical as this will mean that the cooking oil subsidy was extremely high for 2014 at around RM60 million.
The Minister has agreed to give a written reply and PKR will continue to press the Minister for full and better disclosure.
PKR is of the view that such a massive 60% drop in budget allocation is a clear signal from the Najib Administration that BN do not have the best interests of the people of Sabah and Sarawak.
YB Darell Leiking Member of Parliament for Penampang (PKR)
YB Wong Chen, Member of Parliament for Kelana Jaya (PKR)
20 November 2014