KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 10 — Putrajaya spent a total of RM55.443 billion on subsidies alone in 2022, a whopping 322.1 per cent increase or RM42.309 billion as compared to the previous year.

Subsidies for petroleum products was the highest at RM45.184 billion or 81.5 per cent of the total subsidies expenditure, the Auditor-General (A-G) said in its 2022 report released today.

"Petroleum subsidies expenditure include RON95, diesel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supplied by 15 manufacturers for claims between December 2021 until October 2022,” the A-G said in its report.

The A-G pointed out that the subsidies are paid based on the retail price difference fixed by the government and the true market price.

It added that the average global price for a petroleum drum went up to US$100 in 2022 compared to US$71 in 2021.

The report added the aforementioned petroleum price fixed by the government has remained unchanged since 2021.

Separately, the report said subsidies involving cooking oil and food aid totalled to RM2.470 billion, an increase of RM1.421 billion or 135.5 per cent compared to 2021 (RM1.049 billion).

It said there was a significant hike in cooking oil subsidies following a similar hike with palm oil commodities.

As for toll compensation subsidies, the total amount was RM861.22 million, a RM474.94 million or 35.5 per cent decrease as compared to 2021 (RM1.336 billion).

"This expenditure is the compensation amount paid to 19 highway concessionaires on toll discounts and toll hike postponements,” it said.

The full report can be accessed here.