SUNGAI BAKAP - The speech of unity election director Rafizi Ramli was interrupted when a man claiming to be a supporter of Umno attempted to cause a disturbance by questioning the reduction in petrol prices.
Rafizi, who at the time was criticising the leadership of Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Noor regarding the issue of Kulim International Airport (KXP), paused after hearing the argument from the man who stood not far from the stage.
Following this, Rafizi invited the man, who he considered a friend of Sanusi, to come up on stage to explain, but the man refused and then left the area.
There was a brief commotion as unity supporters urged the man to come up on stage, but Rafizi calmed the situation and explained to the attendees how to directly address issues raised by the public.
In his explanation, Rafizi said that the government never cancelled fuel subsidies, including diesel subsidies amounting to RM60 billion a year, but instead redirected them by giving them directly to the people.
He stated that previously, these subsidies were paid to several oil companies annually, unlike the current government's action of distributing them directly to families, who receive financial aid ranging from RM200 to RM500 per month.
"Back in the days when petrol was priced at RM1.90, do you know the crude oil price at that time? Do you know how much subsidy the government had to spend? Very little (was borne by the government) because, at that time, the subsidy expenditure was RM3 billion out of a budget of more than RM200 billion.
"Now the subsidy is RM60 billion with the crude oil price at USD80 (per barrel)... I mentioned earlier (to reduce petrol prices) that if the crude oil price is low and the subsidy can still be maintained, why eliminate the subsidy?
"(Now) when the subsidy has reached RM80 billion, we can't build schools, we can't raise salaries, and the subsidy causes the low petrol prices to benefit the wealthy. Isn't it better to redirect the subsidy rather than cancel it?" he added.