KUALA LUMPUR – The government is considering repurposing Covid-19 tracking app MySejahtera into a potential tool to implement targeted subsidies, according to Deputy Finance Minister II Steven Sim Chee Keong.
Speaking at the Dewan Negara yesterday, Sim said a special task force under the Finance Ministry is looking into several mechanisms to ensure that targeted subsidies reach the intended individuals without leakages.
“Mechanisms for targeted subsidy implementation are being studied in detail (by the task force), including (using) the MySejahtera app.
“I agree with the issue of leakages (relating to) our subsidies… it’s not easy for the government to implement targeted subsidies because those who do not receive (the subsidies) will be angry, even foreigners will complain.
“However, the government has shown its first commitment by implementing targeted subsidies in stages,” Sim said, pointing to initiatives involving electricity tariffs, which saw the government no longer providing full tariff subsidies to big companies using high levels of electricity.
Sim, who is also Bukit Mertajam MP, was responding to a query from Datuk Arman Azha Abu Hanifah, who said the main issue faced by the nation is the “leaking” of subsidies to illegal immigrants.
The Umno senator also questioned if the government will consider using MySejahtera to disseminate subsidies as “around 80 to 90% of citizens” currently use the app.
Earlier this month, Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli said the national targeted subsidy programme is expected to be fully implemented next year after the Centralised Database Hub (Padu) undergoes a trial period this November.
MySejahtera, which was the Health Ministry’s main instrument in managing the Covid-19 pandemic through mandatory check-ins at public places, as well as facilitating vaccine registrations, was previously embroiled in controversy over ownership of the app and its data. – September 26, 2023