PM: Submit report on fuel price rise impact
PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has directed the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) to submit a report before tomorrow’s Cabinet meeting on the impact of the recent fuel price increase.
The directive comes in the wake of moves by certain quarters to raise the price of goods and services.
The Prime Minister issued a reminder to traders to refrain from cashing in on the new fuel prices, saying that when the Government decided on the increase, it had taken into consideration the various factors laid out by the EPU.
“I want to wait for the report before I give my views. But this is a stern warning to the traders, the Government does not simply raise taxes unless it is forced to do so.
“Traders have for so long benefited from the government’s subsidised petrol prices, they should consider the plight of the people who have to pay more now,” he told reporters after opening the first meeting of the revived National Unity Advisory Panel yesterday.
It was reported that schoolbus operators planned to raise fares by between RM2 and RM3 while the Klang Valley Taxi Operators Association had said that its members wanted to charge 50% more.
Citing the proposed increase of bus fares, the Prime Minister said the fuel price increase was minimal and yet each passenger was to be charged several ringgit higher.
“How many more litres of petrol do you need to move the bus? If each passenger is charged more, most probably they (the operators) would earn more than the amount they spend on the petrol.
“This is not the approach to take. If they can absorb, that is the best way to do it,” he added.
Earlier, speaking at the monthly gathering of the Prime Minister’s Department, Abdullah said the Government was confident it would be able to maintain the 7% growth forecast for this year if everybody joined forces and worked together.
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