The incoming Indonesian government will likely raise fuel prices, reports said today, a move that could shorten the honeymoon period for president-elect Joko Widodo.

Outgoing President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono last month declined a request by Joko to raise subsidised fuel prices before a power transfer next month to reduce the burdens on next year’s budget.

“What is for sure is that we will shift subsidies that are wasteful to productive use,” vice-president-elect Jusuf Kalla was quoted as saying by the Detik.com news portal.

Joko, who will be sworn in on Oct 20, has said he is prepared to raise fuel prices even though the move is unpopular.

A steep increase in fuel costs led to widespread protests that helped topple long-time dictator Suharto in 1998.

Last year, Susilo raised fuel prices by up to 44 percent, sparking protests nationwide.

Indonesia has allocated US$24.9 billion for fuel subsidies in the 2015 budget. This accounts for 14 percent of total spending.

Joko, the current governor of Jakarta, beat former general Prabowo Subianto in the July 9 presidential election with 53 percent of the vote.

- dpa