PUTRAJAYA, June 10 – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has defended the government’s decision to implement targeted subsidies, saying that it was done to save the country.
Speaking at a monthly assembly with staff of the Prime Minister’s Department on Monday, Anwar said action must be taken even though it is recognised as an unpopular measure.
“Who wants this targeted subsidy? We must also know that whatever we do, we will be severely criticised with all sorts of slander and lies.
“In fact, we have said that all prime ministers before this had agreed on the targeted subsidy, but there was no political will to implement it because of the risks involved. However, to save the country, we have no choice,” said Anwar, who is also Finance Minister.
Yesterday, the government announced that the price of diesel at all retail stations in Peninsular Malaysia is set at RM3.35 per litre starting from 12.01 am Monday.
