Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has ordered the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to look into his claim that Perikatan Nasional chairman Muhyiddin Yassin had defended the distribution of government subsidies to foreigners.
In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said it acknowledged Muhyiddin‘s denial of ever making such a statement involving targeted RON95 petrol subsidies.
“As a government that upholds transparency and responsibility, the prime minister has ordered MCMC to investigate the matter and take appropriate action,” the PMO said.
Yesterday, Sinar Harian quoted Anwar as saying that Muhyiddin, who is also the Bersatu president, had questioned the government for burdening foreigners when they had also made significant contributions to the country.
Anwar said the government had decided on targeted subsidies for electricity and RON95 petrol so that it could continue helping Malaysians while reducing the nation’s fiscal deficit.
Muhyiddin, the Perikatan Nasional chairman, later denied making such a statement and urged Anwar to furnish proof he had said such a thing.
The former prime minister said Anwar’s claim was slanderous and that his stand from the beginning was that government subsidies should be for Malaysians, not foreigners.
