Ron 97 increase a pre-Budget GIMMICK?

PAS Youth said the price increase of 30 sen for the Ron97 petrol announced yesterday was a ploy by the Barisan Nasional government.

Its vice-leader Raja Ahmad Iskandar predicted that prime minister-cum-Finance minister Najib Razak would announced a price reduction for the premium petrol when he tables the 2013 Budget on September 28.

"We think that Barisan Nasional will use the national budget at the end of September to portray itself as defender of the people and as such, perhaps Ron97 will be reduced," he said.

Raja Ahmad said Najib might even announced price reduction on the widely used Ron95 petrol.

In July, the price for RON97 dropped to RM2.60 per litre, and later increased to RM2.70 per litre.

The 2013 Budget will be the final budget tabled by Najib before the next general election, to seek his first mandate since replacing Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as prime minister in 2009.

Najib is widely expected to call for the polls after the Budget, prompting many to speculate that the budget would be geared towards helping BN regain lost support.

Earlier, Former Perak Menteri Besar Nizar Jamaluddin said the 2013 Budget would be milked to create advantage for the BN in the polls.

“Most certainly this budget will be fully cosmetic in their preparation for the 13th general election. I am convinced that the opportunity will be used to the full to shore up support from the people,” Nizar said.

-Harakahdaily