How is the govt going to fund subsidies, asks Shafie

How is the govt going to fund subsidies, asks Shafie

The Warisan president says subsidies for consumer necessities are higher than the country’s entire national development expenditure of RM76.6 billion.

Warisan president Shafie Apdal has called for a review of the salaries and allowances of ministers and the top management of government-linked companies.
PETALING JAYA:
Warisan president Shafie Apdal has questioned how Putrajaya will fund its subsidies for consumer necessities, which are projected to reach an all-time high of RM77.3 billion this year.

Shafie said this was higher than the country’s entire national development expenditure of RM76.6 billion.

“Where do we get the money for this?” asked the former Sabah chief minister in a statement.

Shafie said the government will have to spend RM92 billion this year, combining the RM76.6 billion for consumer subsidies with the RM15 billion in 1MDB debt repayments by the end of 2022.

He called for a review of the salaries and allowances for ministers and the top management of government-linked companies (GLCs), saying this must be carried out swiftly.

He cited the 60% allowance increment recently given to the chairman of FGV Holdings Bhd (FGV).

“I would suggest not just a 25% cut in their salaries and allowances, but for the number of ministers and deputy ministers to be cut by half,” he said.

The Semporna MP also said the salaries and bonuses of GLCs’ top management and boards of directors should be frozen.

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