Govt Has No Plans To Increase Fuel Price - Shahrir
MELAKA, May 24 (Bernama) -- The government has no plans to increase fuel price despite the price hike of petrol by 30 per cent in Indonesia beginning Saturday, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad said.
On the contrary, he said the government was now focusing on managing the subsidy system to prevent leakage and smuggling.
"For the time being, we are not considering increasing the price of petrol and diesel although we are aware of the impact of the crude oil price hike in the world market.
"We will see how the subsidy system is being managed to encourage saving and ensure that there will be no detrimental effects (to the country)," he told reporters after attending a consumer forum and dialogue at Ayer Keroh here Saturday.
Shahrir said, with the fuel price reaching AS$135 (RM434.18) a barrel, it had put the government under more pressure in managing the subsidy system.
He said the government, through the anti-inflation committee's weekly meeting, deliberated not only on the subsidy system but also on ways to increase its revenue.
Shahrir said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi would announce the streamlining of the prices of subsidised goods nationwide in his visit to Sabah soon.
This is because of the varying prices of subsidised goods, expecially rice between the peninsular, and Sabah and Sarawak, added Shahrir.
In another development, he commended the Melaka Government for calling on the private sector in the state to review the workers' minimum wage above the poverty rate of RM740 a month.
In mooting the idea Friday, Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said a better minimum wage would improve the livelihood of the workers in the state.
source BERNAMA
On the contrary, he said the government was now focusing on managing the subsidy system to prevent leakage and smuggling.
"For the time being, we are not considering increasing the price of petrol and diesel although we are aware of the impact of the crude oil price hike in the world market.
"We will see how the subsidy system is being managed to encourage saving and ensure that there will be no detrimental effects (to the country)," he told reporters after attending a consumer forum and dialogue at Ayer Keroh here Saturday.
Shahrir said, with the fuel price reaching AS$135 (RM434.18) a barrel, it had put the government under more pressure in managing the subsidy system.
He said the government, through the anti-inflation committee's weekly meeting, deliberated not only on the subsidy system but also on ways to increase its revenue.
Shahrir said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi would announce the streamlining of the prices of subsidised goods nationwide in his visit to Sabah soon.
This is because of the varying prices of subsidised goods, expecially rice between the peninsular, and Sabah and Sarawak, added Shahrir.
In another development, he commended the Melaka Government for calling on the private sector in the state to review the workers' minimum wage above the poverty rate of RM740 a month.
In mooting the idea Friday, Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said a better minimum wage would improve the livelihood of the workers in the state.
source BERNAMA
posted by .:[SaimatkonG]:. at 5/31/2008 01:15:00 PM
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