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Key Highlights
Cash for subsidies confirmed
No probe on Yeoh's husband
Govt eyes control over digital media
Cash for subsidies confirmed
The government has finally confirmed that it would be giving targeted subsidies through cash transfers.
For a start, the government would give said cash transfers to eligible recipients of diesel-powered vehicles.
However, curiously, the government does not appear to be using the Central Database Hub (Padu) system to determine who should get the diesel subsidies.
Instead, recipients must register for it through the Budi Madani Subsidy Aid Programme (Budi Madani).
Further, diesel subsidy recipients will get a flat rate of RM200.
The government previously gave the impression that targeted subsidies would take into account multiple criteria - including distance from home to work - which had been keyed into the Padu system.
It is unclear as of yet whether the government will use Padu data to give additional aid in the future.
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No probe on Yeoh's husband
MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki sees no need to investigate the case of the Selangor government awarding a project to a company run by Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh's husband.
Asia Mobility Technologies Sdn Bhd (Asia Mobiliti) is one of two companies selected for the new demand-responsive transit (DRT) system pilot project under the Selangor Mobility initiative.
Asia Mobility's CEO is Yeoh's husband Ramachandran Muniandy. The company's co-owner is Malaysiakini director and former CEO Premesh Chandran.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had said that if any reports were lodged, the case should be investigated transparently.
However, the premier said he would leave the matter to the authorities.
Azam, however, stressed that there was no issue with the project being awarded to Asia Mobiliti as Yeoh was not involved in its decision-making.
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Govt eyes control over digital media
The government is eyeing to amend the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) to expand existing controls to include content on digital media.
The Home Ministry had consulted on this with stakeholders, with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission supporting the PPPA amendment.
However, media organisations, including government media Bernama and RTM, objected to the PPPA expansion, arguing that a Media Council should be established as an independent regulator instead.
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