NGO Jerit has lamented that the ordinary folk have to suffer the cost while Umno factions fight among themselves, alleged to be the cause of the transport fare hike announced yesterday.

"There are even Umno members who have said the fare hike is a form of political sabotage to unseat Prime Minister Najib Razak, who has lost control of the country's administration.

"Whatever these politics, the ones who are victims are the ordinary citizens," said Jerit coordinator M Nalini in a statement today.

She was responding to Umno Youth exco member Ibdillah Ishak who yesterday alleged that the untimely announcement was a form of anti-government sabotage .

Nalini asked what 'logic' it was that as world oil prices had fallen over the past year, the Land Public Transport Commission (Spad) was instead announcing the 20 percent hike for taxi, express buses and Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) fares.

"When oil price goes up, the cost of goods and transport goes up.

"When the price of oil comes down, the cost of goods and transport continues to go up. What's the logic and rationale?" she asked.

Nalini said Spad's duty was to ensure affordable and efficient public transport, not to "turn around and join the government to rob the people".

GST worsens crunch

Jerit, she said, firmly opposes the fare hikes, especially when the Goods and Services Tax (GST) to be implemented next month will likely have inflationary effects, despite the government's assurances.

"According to the authorities and Bank Negara, costs of goods will go up by up to 6 percent after GST implementation.

"We also know the cost of GST-exempt items will nevertheless go up because of the chain effect," she said.

To top this off, said Nalini, the country's minimum wage has not gone up, and blamed the government for caving to pressure from employers to keep minimum wage low.