KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 22 – Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz suggested to the government that the provision of targeted subsidies that will be implemented next year should be refined by carrying out a cost-benefit analysis to ensure that the plans benefit the people.
The former international trade and industry minister said the study was important to ensure that the people were entitled to receive subsidies allocated fairly.
“The implementation has to be really targeted at the right people,” she told the media after launching the book titled “Fathers and Their Wisdom” on Tuesday.
She was commenting on the plan to implement targeted subsidies as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim when tabling Budget 2025 on Oct 18.
Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said the move is to correct the unfair practice of broad subsidies that also benefit the wealthy and foreigners.
Rafidah reminded that every agency and authority should spend the allocation received in the best way.
“Let’s not waste the people’s money. It is important to direct every ringgit to what has been determined and planned,” she said.
At the same time, Rafidah is of the view that there should be a system for monitoring budget expenditure periodically at every level of government administration, from the district level, local government to the ministry, to ensure there are no irregularities or corruption.
She also hoped that the upper classes would not be pressured by the implementation of burdensome new taxes because they also contribute to the national income.
“Don’t look at it in terms of the money, but look at the added value of every business entity that exists,” she said.
