DEPUTY Finance Minister Liew Chin Tong who sent shockwaves to Malaysian motorists yesterday (May 12) with a potential second slash of subsidised RON95 entitlement to 150 litres has been trolled for “spinning” after he retracted his claim on grounds that his statement “has been taken out of the context”.
“In no instance I announced anything on behalf of the government and in no instance that I announced the 150 litres limit as potential government policy,” he clarified his earlier fireside chat at an AFFIN Bank event which has triggered intense public anger at the Madani administration in a Facebook post.
“I regret that my comments have caused a media storm and I hope all would consider the full context of what I said. Thank you.”
In March, following the spike in global crude oil prices, Putrajaya was forced to slash the 300 litres a month quota to the present 200 litres.
Despite the DAP strategic director having cleared the air, a browse on the comment section of Liew’s FB page pointed to netizens insisting that not one but all media reported that “the government is considering to reduce the RON95 monthly quota under the BUDI95 programme to 150 litres/month”.
Apparently, most Chinese language media also reported along a similar line, according to one commenter.
“Please take action and show us if they are taking it out of context or even making slander, otherwise it will be difficult for us to trust you,” snubbed the legal practitioner.
Another commenter verified that it was the Iskandar Puteri MP himself who stated that “the next step is (to slash to) 150 litres because 60% of the population use less than 150 litres”.
A former general manager of an engineering firm then chided Liew for “spinning while you can but you can’t swallow back what you have said”.
Another commenter reckoned that instead of further elevating the hardship of layman Malaysians, “it would be better to reduce the allowances and salaries of ministers and MPs as many are not living up to expectations”.
Amid the shelling by netizens, senior Media Prima journalist Fauziah Ismail advised Liew to take his purported slip of the tongue as “a lesson not to over-share matters that aren’t yet official”.
YB, there is nothing wrong with the news report. While you did not make any official announcement, you did share what could be “the next step”.
Given your position as Deputy Finance Minister, it is reasonable for the public and media to assume that the matter had been discussed at the ministry level and could potentially reflect the government’s next course of action.
Perhaps this should serve as a lesson not to over-share matters that aren’t yet official. Statements made by someone in your position will naturally be taken seriously. – May 13, 2026
Main image credit: Bernama
