MCA president today cautioned the opposition against exploiting the fuel price hike issue in the Sarawak state elections.

According to him, it was no longer an issue.

Ong, who is also housing and local government minister, said the government had explained clearly that the price hike of 30 sen in February was because of rapid rises in the price of oil in the world market.

"Malaysians are enjoying lower fuel prices compared to neighbouring countries because the government provides subsidies," he was quoted as saying by Bernama .

Ong spoke to reporters after accompanying Barisan Nasional's Chan Seng Kai to file his nomination papers for the Batu Lintang state constituency.

The state elections will be held on May 20.

Political gimmick

Elaborating, Ong said the oil issue, which was being exploited by the opposition, was only a political gimmick.

"If the opposition is to run the country, it too will face the same problem," he said.

The increase in fuel prices was met with strong protest from the opposition both in Sarawak and Kuala Lumpur.

Numerous protests were also held in both places urging the government to revoke the hike, which detractors said burdened the lower income group.

Meanwhile, Penang Chief Minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon, who also came to support Chan, said the rapid development in Sarawak was proof that the state BN was capable of bringing progress.

Koh, who is also Gerakan deputy president, said the people of Sarawak should continue giving the mandate to the BN to rule the state.

Work hard

In another development, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak urged BN candidates for the state polls to match their confidence of clinching victory with hard work.

This would show that BN candidates were committed and genuinely interested in serving the people, he said, adding that they should not be over-confident of winning their seats and take their challengers lightly.

"We must not be over-confident of clinching victory. We must be confident of victory but, at the same time, we must also work (to achieve that victory)," he told reporters in Mukah, Sarawak.

Najib - who is BN deputy chairperson - had earlier led a procession of BN supporters in accompanying Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud to the nomination centre.