PUTRAJAYA (Jan 19): The proposed targeted subsidy mechanism will be decided on by the Cabinet next week, according to Minister of Economy Rafizi Ramli.

“The Cabinet (proposal) papers on the method and also the amount of the targeted subsidy will be brought up next week. This means we have sent it to the Cabinet today (Friday, Jan 19) and it will be decided next week,” Rafizi told the media during a press conference.  

“Once the decision is made on the method — including which group, how much, who will get it and so on — that allows the government to announce the forms of targeted subsidy assistance,” he added.

Asked on further details of the mechanism, Rafizi told the press to wait for the Cabinet to make its decision and that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim would make an announcement on that in due time.

“After next week, it’s up to the PM to decide when is an appropriate time to make the announcement," he added.

Rafizi also said he expects a surge in registrations to the Central Database Hub (Padu) following the PM's announcement.

As at 4pm on Friday, Rafizi said 1.29 million individuals aged 18 and above have registered on Padu. Those, together with their dependants — including those under 18 — mean the updates made to the system currently cover 1.64 million individuals.

While Rafizi did not go into details on the proposed targeted subsidy mechanism, he had shared during an interview with The Edge Malaysia weekly that was published on Saturday that it would be a combination of social security and assistance — and that the aid provided would go towards those that meet certain criteria, with supplementary aid to be given, depending on the economic situation.

The design of it is meant to be in the form of a monthly cash transfer to the head of household.