PETALING JAYA: As the International Trade and Industry Minister, Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali should have new and original ideas regarding policies on targeted fuel subsidy schemes, says Selangor Barisan Nasional information chief Isham Jalil.
According to Isham, Azmin had allegedly plagiarised ideas when the Gombak MP recently said that those “driving BMWs cannot be enjoying the same subsidies as those with a Kancil”.
Isham said he mooted a similar idea in an opinion piece with New Straits Times in 2017.
“The only difference is that I used an example of a Porsche, while he (Azmin) used BMW,” said Isham, referring to the opinion piece titled “BR1M Part of Bigger Picture”.
Isham also said the idea was similar to a fuel subsidy scheme proposed by the former Barisan administration prior to the 14th general election in May 2018.
“As a Minister, he (Azmin) should try finding new ideas. Don’t just plagiarise Barisan’s idea from a decade ago or my commentary five years ago.
On Sunday, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said the government is currently mulling targeted fuel subsidies for the lower income group as global crude oil prices continue to push the subsidy bill higher.
“We’ve talked about the review. Those with BMWs cannot enjoy the same subsidies as those with Kancils,” Azmin told a press conference on the Trade and Investment Promotion Mission to the US on May 21.
Azmin had said the government is still seeking a suitable restructuring mechanism for that purpose, adding that this is a necessary measure following drastic increase in fuel subsidy projection in 2022, which shot up to RM28bil from RM11bil last year.
Earlier this month, Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said for every RM1 of fuel subsidy, 53 sen goes to the T20 group while 15 sen is utilised by the B40.