Quit if unable to stop price hikes, Khairy dared

Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin should quit, says an opposition leader, if he cannot stop the government from implementing price hikes for public transportation and highway tolls.

PKR’s Seri Setia assemblyperson Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (left) said despite being critical of previous price hikes, Umno Youth, led by Khairy, had failed to stop the price increases from taking place.

“We don’t want Khairy and Umno Youth to enact a drama, as in the case of criticising the blacklisting of National Higher Education Fund (PTPTN) loan-takers and also attacking Tenaga Nasional Bhd on the electricity tariff hike, but failing to stop either move of the government,” Nik Nazmi said in a statement today.

Khairy was reported to have said that the matter of price hikes will be raised in the cabinet, but Nik Nazmi said if the minister is unable to stop it, he is better off voicing criticism as a regular parliamentarian instead of as a member of the cabinet.

“If the cabinet of which Khairy is a member fails to stop the rising cost of living including the toll hikes, I challenge him to resign as youth and sports minister.

“It is better if he just plays his role as a parliamentarian and is free to criticise from outside (the cabinet),” Nik Nazmi said.

Yesterday, Umno Youth deputy chief Khairul Azwan Harun criticisedMinister in the Prime Minister’s Department Abdul Wahid Omar for suggesting that those unhappy with the toll price hike can use alternative, toll-free routes instead.

Khairy himself branded the sudden rise in cost of living as a “tsunami”, and he was quoted by The Star as saying that the matter will be discussed by the cabinet tomorrow.