The Malaysian government has allocated about RM20 billion (S$8.32 billion) to subsidise essential goods this year, says Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaacob.
He said this showed the government\'s responsibility in reducing the people\'s burden as the allocation could have been spent on infrastructure projects.
\'Malaysians are lucky to get subsidy as many countries don\'t give it resulting in high price of goods thus burdening their people,\' he said.
Mr Ismail, who is Bera MP, said the government spent more than RM17 billion subsidy for essential goods last year.
He said this showed the government\'s responsibility in reducing the people\'s burden as the allocation could have been spent on infrastructure projects.
\'Malaysians are lucky to get subsidy as many countries don\'t give it resulting in high price of goods thus burdening their people,\' he said.
Mr Ismail, who is Bera MP, said the government spent more than RM17 billion subsidy for essential goods last year.