KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 8): Two individuals have filed a judicial review application in the High Court over the government's decision to implement targeted diesel subsidy effective June 10.

The individuals, Azhani Marlan @Abd Halim and Mohd Hatta Sanuri, named the government, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Anwar Ibrahim, Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli, Domestic Trade and Living Costs Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali and Transport Minister Anthony Loke as respondents in their application filed last month.

According to the application, sighted by The Edge, the duo are seeking a declaration that the decision to lift the fuel subsidy in Peninsular Malaysia on June 10 was not rational, unreasonable, and not valid according to the law as it allegedly contravenes certain articles in the federal constitution.

The duo are also seeking a declaration from the court that the government’s decision not to lift the subsidy in Sabah and Sarawak is also not rational and unfair, and and has allegedly caused Malaysians to suffer due to the domino effect of the price increases in diesel.

In their application, the duo also claimed that the government’s automatic pricing mechanism (APM) is using a wrong calculation which has a hidden charge which is channelled to the government.

The duo are seeking a court declaration that the government return the excess payments to the people.

While they did not name him in the application, the duo also questioned Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan’s promise that the price of goods will not increase, citing several news articles which had stated that the price of goods, including raw material, construction materials and rise of prices of food, had increased by 25%.

Other than seeking to quash the Cabinet's decision to remove the subsidy, they are also seeking aggravated damages, general damages and exemplary damages of unspecified nature to every citizen of Malaysia.

The court will hear the leave application for judicial review on Oct 29.

https://www.theedgemarkets.com/node/729486