Anwar calls on civil servants to help explain govt’s subsidy balancing act amid Middle East energy shock

“PUTRAJAYA, May 4 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today urged civil servants to play their role in explaining the fiscal strain facing the government amid a global energy shock triggered by conflict in the Middle East. He said the government could be paying up to RM5 billion a month for petrol subsidies alone based on current oil prices, as he reiterated previous assurances that RON95 petrol and diesel prices would remain low despite the ballooning subsidy bill. Despite attempts to mitigate the impact of rising oil prices, Anwar conceded that the prices of some basic goods had increased. “Do we have a problem with living cost? Yes, I am not denying it,” he said at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability’s monthly assembly here. “Must we manage this wisely? Yes. Can we afford to provide full assistance? I would say partially yes, because we cannot give total help because as you can see, even Budi95 has reached (RM5 billion) a month,” Anwar added. MORE TO COME

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