Selangor exco members have shot down suggestions that they pay for their own petrol on grounds that they were not responsible for the recent increase in fuel prices.
The suggestion was made by Tourism and Culture Minister Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz yesterday, in response to PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli's call for federal cabinet ministers to do so.
Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said that Rafizi's purpose in making the suggestion was for ministers to understand that consequence and "suffering" of ordinary folk as a result of dearer fuel prices.
However, Khalid said those holding public office should not expect the state to subsidise their private fuel usage.
Khalid was speaking to reporters after chairing the weekly state exco meeting today and was accompanied by exco members Teng Chang Khim, Iskandar Abdul Samad and Elizabeth Wong.
The suggestion was made by Tourism and Culture Minister Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz yesterday, in response to PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli's call for federal cabinet ministers to do so.
Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said that Rafizi's purpose in making the suggestion was for ministers to understand that consequence and "suffering" of ordinary folk as a result of dearer fuel prices.
However, Khalid said those holding public office should not expect the state to subsidise their private fuel usage.
Khalid was speaking to reporters after chairing the weekly state exco meeting today and was accompanied by exco members Teng Chang Khim, Iskandar Abdul Samad and Elizabeth Wong.
'No reason to ask us to pay'
When pressed further on whether Rafizi's suggestion ought to be adopted by Selangor, Teng interjected and questioned why the state government was now in the picture.
"What Rafizi was saying is: When you are a minister, you don’t understand the suffering of the people when you make a decision, so you should pay then you will understand.
"But we didn't make the decision here, so why should we do that? We understand (the feeling of the people). If we were the ministers, we won’t increase 20 sen (for a litre of petrol).
"So there is no reason to ask us to pay, since we understand (the people’s suffering)," said Teng.
Yesterday, Rafizi had urged Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to ensure that his cabinet and deputy ministers to pay for their own petrol in order to understand the burden faced by the people in the recent increase in petrol and diesel prices.
However, Nazri has described the suggestion as a “stupid idea”, saying that it should be first heeded by those holding public office in states administered by Pakatan.
When pressed further on whether Rafizi's suggestion ought to be adopted by Selangor, Teng interjected and questioned why the state government was now in the picture.
"What Rafizi was saying is: When you are a minister, you don’t understand the suffering of the people when you make a decision, so you should pay then you will understand.
"But we didn't make the decision here, so why should we do that? We understand (the feeling of the people). If we were the ministers, we won’t increase 20 sen (for a litre of petrol).
"So there is no reason to ask us to pay, since we understand (the people’s suffering)," said Teng.
Yesterday, Rafizi had urged Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to ensure that his cabinet and deputy ministers to pay for their own petrol in order to understand the burden faced by the people in the recent increase in petrol and diesel prices.
However, Nazri has described the suggestion as a “stupid idea”, saying that it should be first heeded by those holding public office in states administered by Pakatan.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.