The drastic 40 percent rise in petrol price and 64 percent increase in diesel price, effective midnight, is seen as a &ldquo;killer tsunami&rdquo; and a &ldquo;catastrophe&rdquo;.


 Motorists and motorcyclists will pay RM2.70 and RM2.58 for a litre of petrol and diesel respectively.


 Social activists, political analysts and consumer groups have their say.


 
 Anthony Thanasayam, coordinator, Malaysians Against Discrimination of the Disabled
 


 This is a terrible tsunami for the disabled. We have suffered enough from several fuel hikes before this. The disabled are forgotten by the government. The last fuel hike saw assistance to some groups but the disabled were forgotten.


 <img align="left" alt="anthony thanasayan" height="64" src="https://i.malaysiakini.com/45/4d59c54b7fd241539917bc5d2d75fa86.jpg" title="anthony thanasayan" width="64"/>
 We can only be independent if we are able to leave our house. How are we supposed to be independent if the fuel price keeps going up? Some of us have managed to get our own cars, and that&rsquo;s a great. But increasing the fuel price will result in the cars becoming white elephants.


 revious hikes may be tsunamis but this one is a killer. The government will have compensate us immediately. I suggest a rebate of about RM500 for each disabled person. (Former premier) Dr Mahathir (Mohamad) was a little more considerate.


 A few years ago, he waived road tax for the disabled. (Prime Minister) Abdullah (Ahmad Badawi) has to understand the disadvantages that the disabled face.


 
 Khoo Kay Peng, independent political analyst
 


 It&rsquo;s a catastrophe and it does not only affect the working class. Everyone is affected. It would be difficult for them to adjust their social activities and behaviour. Inevitably, the whole economic structure would be affected. Prices of goods and services will soar.


 <img align="right" alt="khoo kay peng" height="64" src="https://i.malaysiakini.com/86/58cee77eef069ff07bcf048a9e3e0981.jpg" title="khoo kay peng" width="64"/>
 To make things worse, we also have really poor public transportation that is not reliable. The government should improve the public transportation system. Since the last fuel hike in 2004, steps should have been taken to improve it.


 The RM625 rebate is definitely insufficient. That&rsquo;s only worth about three months of fuel and we&rsquo;re talking about a 60 percent increase of fuel hike. There is a lack of planning by the government.


 
 Patrick Sindhu, president, Consumer Association Sabah and Labuan
 


 <img align="left" alt="patrick sindu" height="64" src="https://i.malaysiakini.com/63/6d07fc1fa85cf5a1bdb987e45abcc669.jpg" title="patrick sindu" width="64"/>
 We in Sabah have to evaluate our lifestyle to face rising petrol prices. The rakyat must understand that rise in oil prices is a global issue. There is not much we can do. Even if we pray or go and hug Pak Lah, the fuel price will still go up. So it is time that we change our lifestyle.


 The fuel price increase was just too fast and too drastic. I&rsquo;m afraid that there will be demonstrations on fuel prices, as has happened elsewhere.


 In Sabah, there are a lot of people who do not own motor vehicles. However, they are not going to benefit from the RM625 cash rebate. But they are going to suffer from subsequent increases in the price of goods and services.


 
 Jacob George, president, Consumer Association Subang and Shah Alam
 


 This comes as a shock. We expected an increase but didn&rsquo;t expect it to be so drastic. We surveyed many petrol stations this afternoon and found that there was panic buying all over the Klang Valley.


 <img align="left" alt="jacob george" height="64" src="https://i.malaysiakini.com/118/c0ac4f625dedb08ffba2ef1da44569ee.jpg" title="jacob george" width="64"/>
 Consumers we interviewed are worried about the impact of the price hike; What will the impact be like across the board? Based on precedent, the government cannot stop the price of goods and services from rising as well.


 It is obvious (from the cash pay-outs) that the government wants to protect lower income groups. But consumers expected a gradual increase in price. The impact is too fast. Too sudden.


 Generally, there was an impression that the price hike would only take effect in August. That would have given people enough time to adjust. People are caught off guard and not ready to make a transition.


 On that note, many complainants told us that the since the government had asked the people to change their lifestyle, the government must change its lifestyle as well to stop leakages and wastage.


 
 M Marimuthu, president, Federation of Malaysian Consumer Associations
 


 <img align="left" alt="n marimuthu 260804" height="64" src="https://i.malaysiakini.com/1/e46b9dc1b094152b961bcef6a93baf12.jpg" title="n marimuthu 260804" width="64"/>
 We knew this was coming. What we want to know now is whether there has been a comprehensive study on how the government is going to spend the money saved on subsidies in other areas like education, public transportation and food security.


 For now, the public must be guaranteed three things: Firstly, public transportation fares must not go up; secondly, low-income families must be allowed a rebate for public transportation; and lastly, public transportayion operators must not take advantage of the situation.

reactions
 

Shock, dismay and anger were the main reactions of social and consumer activists, following the sharp rise in fuel and diesel prices.

Fuel hike comes as a 'killer tsunami'

~RM12

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