The government will take into account the people's other financial burden before allowing price increase on goods, Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said today.

He said the people should not worry too much about the issue of price increase of petrol and other goods following the government's decision to review the prices of goods every six months.

"After a review has been made, there's a possibility the price will not increase but to reduce it may not be possible," he told reporters after opening the Batu Kawan Umno division delegates' meeting, here.

He said the government was very concerned, and hence would take into consideration all factors.

The issue of price increase, particularly on petrol, has been much talked about lately when the government announced that it would review prices of petroleum products including RON95 petrol next month to determine whether it would remain or otherwise.

    

The price of RON97, which has been floated according to the current oil market price, rose by 20 sen to RM2.90 per litre in April, while the last price increase for RON95 was last December, by five sen to RM1.90 per litre.

"It was once decided that if the petrol price increased more than 30 sen, there would no more be fuel subsidy and it would be borne by the people, but the government has not implemented this because it will further burden them," Ismail Sabri said.

Therefore, he said, the people needed to understand the reality of price increase on petrol and other goods, as things would not remain the same forever but likely to experience changes.

"Last year, the subsidy amounted to RM8 billion, but because of the hike in world crude oil price of up to US$100 a barrel, the subsidy has reached RM18 billion," he added.

- Bernama