PADANG BESAR, Jan 20 — The government will conduct efforts to retarget subsidies in phases this year with improvements on social assistance, said Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.
He said the ministry (KPDN), the Finance Ministry, and the Economy Ministry are discussing refining ‘cash transfers’ provided to the people, including the Rahmah Cash Aid (STR), by considering the subsidy retargeting efforts.
“We will carry out retargeting of subsidies in phases which will involve the diesel and RON95 components,” Armizan said to the press after attending the Rahmah Sale programme today.
Among the STR improvements are to raise the amount and expand the assistance to a larger target group. The minister added that Malaysians should update their details on the Central Database Hub (Padu).
Padu is crucial in assisting the government to channel social assistance to the target groups and prevent individuals from being excluded.
Meanwhile, the government’s commitment to helping the people was evident when it announced yesterday that the amount for the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) cash aid will be increased to RM1,200 this year from RM600 last year.
“It involves a significant allocation. Last year, RM130 million was set aside, but this year, the allocation has increased to RM700 million. In terms of the recipients, it only involved the hardcore poor last year.
“But this year, it will also benefit poor individuals, which is an increase of 700,000 recipients from 210,000,” he said.
On the Rahmah Sale, Armizan said KPDN will expand the programme to ensure the people continue to benefit from it, in line with the increase in the allocation set aside for the imitative from 100 million last year to 200 million this year.
— Bernama
