PKR leader Rafizi Ramli today ups the ante for Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to announce a reduction in RON95 and diesel prices by the Umno general assembly next week, or face a mass demonstration on Dec 31.

He said the move would help prop the Umno leader's declining popularity among the people and within his party.

“A win-win solution for Najib Abdul Razak is to announce the reduction in the petrol prices of RON95 and diesel at the Umno general assembly next week,' he said in a statement.

To ensure the Dec 31 protest would be a success, Rafizi said his party is embarking on a campaign – through a roadshow as well as on social media, to tap into public anger if the price of RON 95 and diesel is not reduced.

Rafizi, who is Pandan MP and PKR secretary-general, had proposed yesterday for the government to announce the reduction, following the RON97 price cut.

He said the decision on RON97 had given the impression that Najib, who is also Finance Minister, and his administration knew the people were angry.

Crude oil prices see a dip by 20 percent for the past two months.

The prices of crude oil is around US$80 a barrel and the price of RON95 petrol is RM2.43 a litre (without subsidy) and diesel at RM2.32 a litre.

“BN has fixed the price of RON95 at RM2.30 a litre and RM2.20 a litre for diesel, and the subsidy for the two are 13 sen and 12 sen a litre respectively.

“The price of crude oil is expected to remain between USD70 to USD80 a barrel for 2015 and the government subsidy for petrol and diesel is only RM2 billion next year.

“Hence, I reiterate my announcement yesterday that if the prices of RON95 and diesel is not reduced by Dec 1, PKR would have a campaign leading to the demonstration on Dec 31,” he added.

Rafizi pointed out that there is a saving of RM11 billion in 2015 and a saving of RM2 billion in subsidy for the last quarter of this year, as a result of the decline in oil prices.

He said it is only proper that such savings are passed back to the people.

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