KUALA LUMPUR: The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry has refuted claims that the RM40mil subsidy for wheat flour will be terminated.

Deputy Minister Fuziah Salleh clarified that the allocation initially intended for this subsidy had been redirected to the Payung Rahmah programme, totalling RM200mil.

"In Budget 2023, there was an allocation of RM40mil earmarked for general-purpose wheat flour subsidy listed under item number 040600.

"However, this allocation is not present in Budget 2024. This matter was raised in the House recently," she explained.

"For several years, there hasn't been any demand for this subsidy as no factories have been willing to produce wheat flour for general use.

"The public hasn't expressed a need for it either, given the availability of various flour brands in the market," she added.

She was responding to a question from Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (PN-Masjid Tanah) during the question and answer session at the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (March 25).

Earlier, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali had mentioned that the subsidy for wheat flour had been discontinued this year.

Armizan informed the Dewan Rakyat that the subsidised wheat flour production couldn't be sustained as manufacturers found it unsustainable to produce the product at the controlled price of RM1.45 per kg.

An amendment to the Federal Constitution will require two third support in the House or 148 MPs to be passed.