PAS launched its first phase of actions against the recently-announced sugar and fuel price hikes with the distribution of 2,000 pamphlets in Kuala Lumpur this evening.

pas handing out leaflets on price hikes 2 Members of Federal Territories and Selangor PAS Youth gathered at Masjid India at about 5.30pm and proceeded to Sogo Shopping Complex, arriving there at 6.15pm to begin the protest.

Some 12 members of the police were already seen standing by outside the complex as early as 4.15pm.

Federal Territories PAS Youth information chief Fadhil Osman led the launch of the campaign and the pamphlet distribution.

“We are demanding that the federal government withdraw the price hikes on petrol, diesel, gas and sugar announced on Dec 3,” Fadhil told Malaysiakini .

The pamphlet urged the public to oppose the BN government’s subsidy cuts that raised by 5 sen across the board, the gas price to RM1.90, sugar to RM2.10, RON95 petrol to RM1.90 and diesel to RM1.80.

fadhil pas handing out leaflets on price hikes It explained that the hikes will also result in higher transport costs such as on public buses, and to inflation of health costs and school fees.

Fadhil ( right ) regretted that more members were not present, that they had to call off a protest they had planned at the complex.

“It’s enough at this stage that we have distributed the pamphlets, it will be more effective to communicate the information, rather than through a demonstration.

“From the looks of the many police officers present today, they probably thought we were going to hold a demo. But they did not stop us from distributing the pamphlets,” he said.

pas handing out leaflets on price hikes He apologised for the absence of PAS Youth chief Nasrudin Hassan, his deputy Azman Sapawi and other exco members saying they had “other engagements”.

Pakatan Rakyat has been active to hit the streets in campaigns to stop the government from raising prices on essential goods, such as during a similar hike announced last Dec 9.

The latest hikes has drawn fierce criticism from various quarters, including student groups who rallied outside Masjid Putrajaya on Dec 10 and submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister's Department to demand that the hikes be scrapped

Three student leaders were arrested at the student protest and released later in the evening.