Hundreds more protest demonstrations can be held until the 'cows come home' but the government will not review its recent decision to raise the price of fuel, said a minister today.

Not only that, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz told a press conference at the Parliament lobby that future street protests on the issue will not be tolerated.

"We don't care what others say, we must enforce our laws [...] we might as well don't have laws if we are not going to enforce them," said the de facto law minister.

He was asked to comment on the police resorting to force to break-up a protest on the fuel price hike outside the Petronas Twin Towers yesterday during which 22 people were detained.

The protest was organised by the Malaysian Trade Unions Congress (MTUC) which this morning also led some 500 people on a march from the Parliament building to the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) office in Kuala Lumpur.

Opposition parties and non-governmental organisations have vowed to stage weekly protests until fuel prices drop.

Referring to this, Nazri said: "Even if you demonstrate 100 times, the government won't reduce the price. You can demonstrate till the cows come home but the government won't revise the decision".

Crackdown time

He said the police have been told to prevent the demonstrations and act fast to put a halt to the weekly protests. Referring to anti-price hike demonstrations held by PAS after Friday prayers, Nazri said they have created fear among non-Muslims and caused traffic congestion in the city.

"It is time for them to stop, they should not think there is any signal which allows them to hold weekly protests. The police have been very tolerant," he said.

Offering a counter solution, Nazri said those who were still unhappy with the price hike could voice out in Parliament through the opposition MPs.

Asked whether the authorities' high-handedness on protestors will stir up more anger among the people against the fuel price increase, he replied: "I believe the rakyat support the action that we have taken."

On a related matter, the minister said he did not receive any memorandum on the fuel price hike issue from the MTUC this morning and that the body had not made an official appointment to meet him.

"I was prepared to meet them after the question-and-answer session but they have since left as it was an illegal gathering," he explained. The MTUC had intended to send 10 representatives to submit the memorandum but the police only allowed five after negotiations.

MTUC 'confrontational'

Nazri also took a swipe at the congress, saying: "Does the MTUC think they are very powerful and they can ignore laws [...] even the need to deal with a minister here?"

"What's the difference between five and 10 representatives? Their refusal is a confrontational approach and the government will not bow to this pressure," he said.

Meanwhile, Tan Kok Wai (DAP-Cheras) in his debate to thank the royal address this afternoon blasted the police for manhandling protestors taking part in yesterday's protest march.

He said the incident showed the urgent need to establish the proposed Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission.

Wan Adnan Wan Mamat (BN-Indera Mahkota), however, interjected and said the protestors had caused a traffic jam along the area.

Tan retorted: "Traffic jams happen every minute in Kuala Lumpur."