COMMENT | Rightfully so, public attention is on the new RON95 petrol subsidy scheme, with a lot of discussion on the introduction of limits to the amount of subsidised petrol a person can buy.

The overwhelming majority of Malaysians drive to get around, for work, school, and their daily lives and are reliant on affordable fuel to be able to do so. The potential rise in costs is anxiety-inducing even among those who are better off, which makes the generous limits much welcomed.

Yet, there are emerging views that the petroleum subsidy retargeting (with which, full disclosure, I had some minimal involvement) is misplaced, given that Malaysia has set for itself aggressive carbon emission targets.

It has been argued that...