PKR-linked NGO Jingga 13 blasted the government for raising the petrol prices yesterday after giving out RM500 Raya bonuses to civil servants on June 25.

"Raising the petrol prices seems like it's to bear the costs of giving the bonuses," Jingga 13 chief coordinator Fariz Musa ( photo ) said in a statement today.

"The rakyat are the ones affected in the end, even though crude oil prices has gone down," he added.

Yesterday, several opposition lawmakers wondered why petrol prices went up in the face of falling crude oil prices as well.

"Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's administration raised the price of RON95 yesterday, going against the current crude oil price," Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli said.

The government also adopted a policy not to announce changes in petrol prices in advance on June 30.

Fariz questioned this decision, wondering if this might be a way for the government to escape criticism from the people.

"The people need an explanation about these issues seeing as the government's actions are harming the people," he said.

Low-income earners greatly affected

The low-income earners are greatly affected by these price hikes, he noted, especially for the Muslims who are preparing for the Ramadan and Raya celebrations.

Fariz also criticised Najib, saying that the people are the ones who are forced to bear the costs of a weak administration under his leadership.

However, he added that Jingga 13 fully supports the bill to establish 'Tabung Penstabilan Harga Minyak' (Petrol Price Stabilisation Fund) in the coming Parliament sessions, as the fund would help lessen the burden of the people.