Govt studying targeted fuel and cooking oil subsidy mechanism to assist vulnerable groups - Tengku Zafrul

"The implementation of the targeted subsidies is expected to optimise the government's financial resources and the savings achieved can be redistributed for more effective programmes to contribute to the well -being of the people," he told the Dewan Rakyat today.

Tengku Zafrul said the current subsidy scheme entails subsidised prices enjoyed by all, regardless of rich or poor. Furthermore, he said the high-income group is enjoying more subsidies based on a greater level of consumption compared to the low-income group.

Total fuel and cooking oil subsidies expected to reach RM28 billion in 2022

The minister said since the beginning of 2021, world crude oil prices have shown a significant upward trend, with the benchmark Brent crude rising to US$85 per barrel in January 2022 from US$55 per barrel in January 2021.

Following this increase, he said the government has to cover a significant increase in subsidies for petrol, diesel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) of up to 10 times, increasing from RM200 million for January 2021 to more than RM2 billion for January 2022.

Coupled with the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, world crude oil prices have risen sharply to more than US$100 per barrel, the highest level since 2014, he said, adding that with this increase, the total petrol, diesel and LPG subsidies are expected to exceed RM2.5 billion a month.

"If the world crude oil price remains above US$100 per barrel, the total subsidy for the whole of 2022 is expected to reach RM28 billion compared to RM11 billion for 2021."

Tengku Zafrul said consumers currently paid only RM2.05 per litre for RON95 petrol but the actual cost in March had reached RM3.70 per litre for petrol.

"The government has to cover the difference of RM1.65 per litre. For example, every time we go to the petrol pump station, if were were to refuel RM100 worth of petrol or about 49 litres, the amount paid by the government is RM81, as the total actual cost based on the market price is RM181 for 49 litres for RON95."

He said this means that the government subsidised up to 45 per cent of the total amount paid. As for diesel, he said consumers paid only RM2.15 per litre at petrol stations while the actual cost had also exceeded RM4 per litre.

"The huge gap between retail prices at petrol stations compared to actual market prices will result in a higher risk of subsidy leakages due to smuggling of petroleum products out of the country.

"The government also cannot borrow to finance operating expenditure such as subsidy costs. Hence, the increase in subsidy costs needs to be offset by increased revenue and cost savings," he said.

Responding to Cha's suggestion regarding ceiling pricing for oximeters and thermometers, Nanta said this would be implemented if necessary.

To a supplementary question on the government's efforts in controlling the quality of products like face masks and Self-Test Kits in the market, Nanta said the ministry was evaluating the matter to ensure that the quality was of medical standard.

"Not only the prices are monitored but also we want quality (standards) to be met. We are looking into the matter and will gazette the standards on quality later.

"In relation to the COVID-19 Test Kit earlier, it (medical standard) is indeed under the jurisdiction of the MDA (Medical Device Authority) under the Ministry of Health. So this ministry will continue to work with the MDA to continuously monitor the matter to ensure these devices (in the market) are of quality, "he said.