KUCHING: Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Deputy Minister Chong Chieng Jen was schooled by Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah on his
ministerial duties.
Abdul Karim stressed that Chong should be more responsible and be made aware that as a minister, what he says is deemed by the public as government policy.
“As a federal deputy minister, he should know that policies or matters which has not been endorsed by the Federal Cabinet should not be discussed or revealed to the public as it could confuse them,” he said.
Abdul Karim pointed out that even after more than a year of sitting in the minister’s comfort chair, Chong seems to still be struggling to understand how ministries work.
“Or maybe he just loves to be a rumourmonger. My advice to him is to only explain and give accurate statements.
“Don’t spread unnecessary anxieties over matters that are still in discussion at the ministry level — like this matter on subsidies on petrol for different levels of society,” he said when contacted.
He added the matter has been debated extensively in social media these last few days because of his earlier press release.
“It only came to an anti-climax today (yesterday) that the matter has not been finalised, confirmed, or endorsed by the Cabinet,” Abdul Karim said.
Citing a news report, Chong said in a statement that the Federal Cabinet has yet to make a final decision on the proposed targeted subsidy for RON95 and diesel.
The initial proposed targeted fuel subsidy scheme was only for the B40 group.
The Cabinet had yet to make a decision on whether to maintain the current general fuel subsidy scheme or to introduce a targeted fuel subsidy or a hybrid scheme — whether the subsidy should be confined to the B40 group or also to include the M40 group as well.
At present, the general fuel subsidy scheme fixes the price of RON95 at RM2.08 per litre and diesel at RM2.18 per litre. Without this scheme, the price of RON95 will be RM2.49 per litre and diesel RM2.39 per litre, given the current international crude oil price.
Chong pointed that the matter would be decided by the Cabinet ministers collectively and an announcement is likely to be made during the tabling of the national Budget 2020 scheduled to be tabled in Parliament on Oct 11.
