Decision soon on fuel prices
By M. Hamzah Jamaludin, Hanif Salim and Sulaiman Jaafar, NST
KEMAMAN: The government’s plans to rationalise the fuel subsidies should not be exploited as the increase in global prices of the commodity will eventually make the amount involved too big to manage, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Hitting out at the opposition in particular, Muhyiddin said it was easier for them to blame the government as they were not the ones who had to find solutions to the problem, especially when the subsidies involved had increased from RM10 billion to RM18 billion.
“They don’t have the solutions. The price hike of fuel, gas, electricity and other products is a global phenomenon and is also affecting other countries, including our neighbours Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia,” he said after opening the Kemaman Umno division delegates’ meeting here yesterday. Present were Kemaman Umno division head and Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said and deputy division chief Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek.
The opposition has been exploiting the issue of an imminent fuel price hike although the government has yet to make a decision on the matter.
Muhyiddin said the government would take into consideration all factors before making any decision on the fuel subsidies, which had helped maintain the prices of other products and services.
He said the most important task for the government now was to find ways to solve the problem and help the public face the impact if the government decided to increase the prices of fuel, including RON 95.
Asked when the government would make the decision on fuel prices, he said the matter would be announced after a cabinet committee that he chaired received reports from all the agencies involved.
“We will study the matter thoroughly and make a decision even if it is not a popular one. The people want to know how are we going to solve the problem and we have to inform them.
“Among others, we will enforce the relevant laws to help control prices of essential goods and stop hoarding and profiteering activities.”
Muhyiddin said it was important for the public to also help absorb the increase in fuel prices as the time would come when the government could no longer shoulder the subsidies which could affect the development plans for the country.
However, he said, Malaysians would continue to enjoy a better life as the inflation rate in the country was among the lowest in the region.
“There is an increase in the prices of services and goods in Malaysia, but it is insignificant compared with other countries,” he said, adding that many Malaysians were complaining about the price hike as they had been enjoying subsidised products for years.
Muhyiddin said the government could not control the prices of most imported goods as they were caused by petroleum price hike and environmental factors, including drought and floods.
On another matter, Muhyiddin said Umno state liaison committees should help solve the problems at the divisional level and unite party members before the next general election.
He said he was confident that the state liaison committees would be able to solve all problems, including the bickering among divisional leaders and their factions, and that the party supreme council would only intervene if the problems could not be settled by the state liaison committees or if they involved party rules and regulations.
The deputy prime minister also said it was important for all Umno members to maintain unity as it could help them face the opposition effectively in the next general election.
In Tumpat, Muhyiddin said the Federal Government and Barisan Nasional would give special attention to Kelantan in its effort to recapture the state from Pas in the next general election.
He also said the state BN would be allowed to have a separate manifesto to allow it to outline the projects that would be carried out in the next five years if it was given a chance to govern Kelantan.
“We can sit down and plan massive development for the state and a chance to improve the life of the people if given the mandate. This plans will have the support of the prime minister.
“But to implement this, we must have the backing of the people of the state,” he said when opening the Bachok Umno delegates’ meeting here yesterday.
Present were Kelantan Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Mustapa Mohamed and Bachok Umno chief Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin.
Muhyiddin said the people in the state were living in poor conditions after more than 20 years under Pas control and Kelantan Umno must rise again to ensure that it would be able to defeat Pas.
