Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng has given his assurance that the government is committed towards helping farmers, plantation workers and fishermen, although it must be ensured that allocated subsidies help those in need instead of being abused.

He alleged that the existing approach towards subsidies only contributed to the wastage of "hundreds of millions of ringgit" by benefitting those who are undeserving.

"The government is committed to farming as a strategic economic sector in view of its contribution to the national economic growth as well as assuring the safety of the nation's food security.

"It is important that subsidy aid is modified to a targeted approach that helps those who truly strive (berusaha) and are in need of help, and not the existing approach which wastes hundreds of millions of ringgit benefitting those who do not deserve it," Lim said in a statement today on Budget 2019.

Lim, who is also Bagan MP, assured that the Pakatan Harapan government would retain targeted subsidies to help maintain a source of income for farmers, agricultural workers, plantation workers and fishermen.

He added: "This must be done to stem the problem of leakage and misuse or embezzling of subsidy aids so that national funds are not wasted...especially by those who are well-off.

"That is the government's approach to ensure that the welfare of true farmers, agricultural workers, plantation workers and fishermen will not be disregarded and will be maintained."

The minister's statement comes after the government was accused of neglecting the interests of the aforementioned groups when Budget 2019 was tabled.

Chief among the accusers was former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.