PAS urges Govt to withdraw stoppage of fuel subsidy
Published on: Monday, November 24, 2014
KOTA KINABALU: PAS Sabah Deputy Commissioner III, Hamid Ismail, urged the Prime Minister and his Cabinet to withdraw the decision to stop the fuel subsidy. "I think Sabahans will be gravely affected when all subsidies for RON95 petrol and diesel are stopped by Dec 1. With the implementation of the managed float system to determine the nation fuel price, the prices of goods and food in Sabah is open to abuse by irresponsible traders," he said.In a statement here Sunday, Hamid said if the world fuel price increases in December this year, the prices of goods and food in Sabah will go up.
ADVERTISEMENT
"But if the world fuel price decreases in January 2015, the prices of those items will remain as that of December 2014. "The current trend in Sabah is that the increase of fuel price will definitely elevate the price of goods and food but the price of the latter has never gone down after that," he said.Coupled with the cabotage policy which exists in Sabah, the price of goods and food in Sabah will increase greatly with the abolishment of fuel subsidies and this would burden Sabahans especially the lower income group. The Prime Minister had explained that the consumers would directly benefit from the managed float system but Hamid claimed this was not reasonable.
ADVERTISEMENT
"Subsidies are meant to help the people. If fuel subsidies were stopped, in what way would it directly benefit the people especially the lower income group? "I remember clearly that each time the Government increased the nation's fuel price, the Government would always issue warnings of criminal prosecution to traders not to raise prices of goods and food indiscriminately," he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
"Yet, despite those warning, the price of goods and food in Sabah soared. "Now just imagine when the fuel subsidies are stopped. Although the Government will issue the same warnings again, I predict those warnings would not prevent irresponsible traders to raise price of goods and food unreasonably in Sabah. "I assume that after this, many Government and pro-Government economists will come up with many theories and reasons in support of the Cabinet's decision to stop the fuel subsidy. "But I wonder whether they know what Malaysians, especially Sabahans, are feeling each time the prices of goods and food are raised. Expensive goods and food burden Malaysians," he said.Hamid said that when the Government decided to increase the nation's fuel price, he often read in the media about ministers advising people to change their lifestyle so that their budget would fit the current situation.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
