If you’re worried this week’s rise in petrol and diesel prices is going to put a dent in your bank balance, the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister assures you that that the upcoming federal budget announcement will make things all right again.
Minister Hasan Malek asked Malaysians to be patient, as Budget 2015 will introduce several measures to ease the people’s pain in dealing with rising prices.
“It is a very minimal hike in petrol price. Wait for the budget. It will address the burden by increasing BR1M and other measures,” he said.
“Be patient — I am confident the budget will stick to the motto of ‘rakyat didahulukan’ (the people come first),” he said, as reported by The Star Online‘s Tashny Sukumaran.
Hasan also gave his assurance that his ministry would be on “24-hour call” to prevent the unfair rise in price of goods and services.
“Don’t fool around with our ministry. We will not hesitate to take stern action.”
He went on to say that the Federal Government’s decision to cut the subsidies to RON95 petrol and diesel by 20sen per litre was to strengthen Malaysia’s financial reserves, and that the plan is to have a zero budeget deficit by 2020.
On the sentiment that the fuel hikes came too close to the Hari Raya Aidiladha holidays, Hasan said the move could not have been delayed further.
“If I wait until after Hari Raya, it will be near Deepavali and the Indians will complain. If I wait till after Deepavali it will be near Christmas and the Christians will be unhappy,” he said.
At midnight on October 2, the price of RON95 petrol and diesel went up by 20 sen to RM2.30 per litre and RM2.20 per litre respectively.
