PUTRAJAYA, Oct. 19 -- Subsidy rationalisation is one of the toughest economic acts but it is necessary to plug wastages and leakages in Malaysia, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.

Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, said even his predecessors such as Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Datuk Seri Najib Razak had attempted the measure but lacked the determination to implement it.

"Not many countries have managed to make it (subsidy rationalisation) work and few countries dare to even attempt doing it," Anwar said during the Finance Ministry's monthly assembly here today.

"The economic theories may not support it but for leaders committed to the Waad Nasional, we are obliged to do our best for the people," he added.

Anwar said ...