PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man lambasted the government's decision to increase the petrol prices at midnight , without notice.
He said the decision, which was made known right after the highway concessionaire North-South Expressway Bhd’s (Plus) announcement to give rebates for the Raya celebrations later this month, showed the hypocrisy of government.
He pointed out it managed to keep the price increase at bay in April, when the Permatang Pauh and Rompin by-elections were on.
Referring to the trend of oil prices which is now stable, Tuan Ibrahim ( photo ) further questioned the price increase.
“Can the government see itself in the mirror? If there was no need for the petrol hike prior to the by-elections, why the need to increase it when world’s petrol price is trending downwards and Aidilfitri celebrations are on the way?
“Was Umno’s fate in the by-elections more important ?” he asked.
He also queried if the reason for the hike was the falling ringgit.
No warning
The pump price of RON95 petrol went by RM0.10 per litre at midnight amidst falling global crude oil prices since June 10.
Prices of RON97 petrol went up by RM0.20 per litre while the price of diesel is unchanged.
This means that RON95 petrol will cost RM2.15 per litre while RON97 petrol will cost RM2.55 per litre.
The government had also announced that it would no longer warn consumers prior of fuel price increase and consumers would have to find out for themselves at the petrol station at the beginning of every month.
The Petrol Dealers Association of Malaysia (PDAM) told Malaysiakini that they had agreed to this, as it would help ensure "smooth operations" of petrol stations.
Earlier PKR secretary general Rafizi Ramli ( left ) said petrol prices should have gone down, not up, as the price of crude oil fell in late June, from US$66 per barrel to around US$62 per barrel yesterday.
He said instead of going up by 10 sen a litre to RM2.15, the RON95 price should have fallen closer to the RM1.70 level of February this year, when crude oil was priced at US$60 per barrel.
In a related matter, Tuan Ibrahim said the Islamic party hoped that the Raya toll rebates announced by Plus should not open the way to toll increases after the celebrations.
He also suggested that Plus and other highway concessionaires give a break to all road users to already burdened by rising fuel costs.
“Everytime there is a long holiday, the people lose the convenience of using the highways. The journeys no longer save time and users are trapped for hours on the road.
“PAS believes the loss of income by not raising tolls would never jeopardise the operations of highway concessionaires in this country. Take this as giving a rebate to Malaysians, who as loyal customers, have kept using the highways all this while,” he declared.
