PETALING JAYA: The government will use electric bills to determine those who will be eligible for RON95 petrol subsidies, reported Sin Chew Daily.
Deputy Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Chong Chieng Jen said only those who are in the B40 category, with monthly bills of between RM100 and RM200, will be eligible.
“The use of electricity bills is only a reference point, ” Chong said in an exclusive interview with the paper.
The proposed mechanism, he said, will be submitted to the Cabinet in October.
Once implemented, the government’s cap on RON95 prices will be removed.
According to Chong, those eligible can either enjoy a RM30 monthly subsidy or a subsidy of 30 sen for every litre of RON95 petrol capped at 100 litres a month.
Motorcyclists will instead be given a subsidy of RM12 each month. The funds will be transferred directly into a recipient’s bank account.
A proposed targeted subsidy for RON95 petrol was initially intended to be rolled out in July this year but was postponed.
At present, the government spends an average of RM133mil each week on fuel subsidies.
