BUTTERWORTH: Leakage and wastage in government subsidies allocated to the people must be effectively addressed through accurate data and information provided by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar said that if these subsidy leakages are not addressed, government expenditure on subsidies will continue to increase without actually reaching the intended target groups.

“Funds allocated for agricultural assistance, subsidies for people and poverty reduction are substantial.

According to recent studies presented at various forums, including the Khazanah Megatrends Forum, research by international economists indicates that Malaysia, despite having one of the lowest tax collections and tax bases, provides some of the highest subsidies in Asia.

“While it is positive that our subsidies are being extended, without reliable data, we are witnessing significant leakages, which must be urgently addressed,” he said in his speech at DOSM’s 75th Diamond Jubilee celebration on Saturday (November 2). – Bernama

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