The sharp increase in fuel and cooking gas prices has led the state to experience, what one activist termed as a 'price havoc'.

Consumer Association of Sabah and Labuan FT president (Cash) Patrick Sindu said today the price of foodstuff and transportation services have increased, causing concern among consumers, especially the low-income group.

"Many people have called up Cash to ask what we are doing about it.

"What I suspect is that the government has run out of money and unless they reduce the subsidies on fuel they will not be able to fully finance the Ninth Malaysia Plan," he added.

Despite the government's assurances, Sindu said the price of petrol and diesel would rise again this year by as much as 70 sen per litre.

He said the government should place more emphasis on what he called the 'Green Revolution' to reduce the heavy dependence on food imports which cost RM10 billion annually.

The government, he added, should also take action against unscrupulous traders and retailers who exploited the situation, causing a spiraling inflation.

"Much of the vast hinterland of Sabah has not been used for growing vegetables to reduce imports," he said.

He also noted that many essential items manufactured in Peninsular Malaysia cost much more in Sabah because of high freight charges.

On March 1, the government upped the price of petrol and diesel by 30 sen per litre to about RM1.90 ringgit and RM1.58 ringgit respectively.

Campaign is on

In an unrelated matter, Sindu said despite the obstacles, the signature campaign to pressure the federal government to set-up a royal commission of inquiry to probe how foreigners in Sabah received identity cards will proceed as planned.

He said those behind the campaign are determined to press ahead and the campaign will commence on March 15.

"I understand that a directive has been issued to Barisan Nasional (BN) elected representatives not to associate themselves with the signature campaign.

"However, some of them (BN leaders) have called up to encourage me to go ahead with the campaign in their respective constituencies," he added.

The campaign is being organised by the Patriotic Citizens Forum on Identity Cards (Pacific) with the aim of urging the federal government to revoke the identity cards which they claim could have been issued to as many as a million foreigners who gained citizenship through 'dubious' means.

Sabah's population is unofficially estimated at four million. Of this, half are said to be foreigners, largely from southern Philippines and Indonesia who sought refuge in Sabah over the last three decades because of troubles in their own countries.

BN reps invited

Sindu - who helms Pacific - confirmed that the launch of the six-month-long campaign will take place on March 15 at a hotel in Kota Kinabalu in conjunction with the International Consumer Rights Day.

"Yes, we've invited BN represntatives to attend, but I do not know whether any of them will show up. I understand there are instructions for them to stay away from the event which is said to be embarrassing to the government," he said.

On the same note, Sindu said it has come to his attention that a 'rival campaign' spearheaded by former Sabah chief minister Harris Salleh's Yayasan Islam Sabah (YIS) is already underway.

YIS wants the government to re-affirm the validity of the surat akuan (statutory declaration) used for the issuance of identity cards and citizenship to foreigners in the east Malaysian state bordering southern Philippines and Indonesia's East Kalimantan.

"Some of their (YIS) paid workers approached my gardener, an Indonesian from Unjung Padang, to ask him to sign. He told them he has a passport and a work permit and that he would not need to sign," said Sindu.

The surat akuan was widely used when Harris was chief minister from 1976 until he was toppled in 1985 by the Joseph Pairin Kitingan-led Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS).