KOTA BAHARU: The Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism is in the preparatory stage of the system to implement the diesel subsidy rationalisation plan expected in early January next year.
The Ministry’s Secretary General Datuk Seri Alias Ahmad said what was being awaited is the final decision from the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) and the Finance Ministry in respect of a number of policies before the system is implemented.
“The implementation of the subsidy rationalisation for just diesel is expected in January, while that for petrol will take a little longer. This is because the system for diesel is the Diesel Subsidy Control System which is ready, and we are merely ‘upgrading’.
“For petrol, we are starting from zero and it needs time…late maybe by between two to three months after the subsidy rationalisation for diesel,” he added.
Alias told reporters this after chairing a departmental meeting here yesterday.
He said about 780,000 vehicles will be involved in the subsidy rationalisation for diesel, and for petrol, about 18 million.
“The system for the subsidy rationalisation for petrol involves a larger number and is broader,” he added.
Alias said the diesel subsidy rationalisation will bring about savings of between five and six million litres annually. — Bernama