Enough is enough, stop all price hikes, Khairy tells Putrajaya

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin says the government should stop price hikes as the people are already burdened with rising cost of living. – The Malaysian Insider file pic by Kamal Ariffin, December 9, 2015.

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin called on the government and party leadership to stop any more price hikes, just one day after Putrajaya announced that electricity rates will rise next year following slashed rebates.

Khairy told Umno Youth delegates at its general assembly today, that the people were burdened with rising cost of living and they had reached their breaking point.

"We understand the need for these measures. But at the same time, when the people are laden with pressure from the rising cost of living, we can no longer stay silent," said Khairy in his policy speech at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) in Kuala Lumpur.

"We are not asking for the abolishment of all and sundry, but Umno Youth wants to send this message to the party leadership and the government – enough! Stop these price hikes, no more increases."

Khairy cited highway tolls as an example, noting that there was no excuse for the government to increase the fare for intercity highways, such as the North South Highway and the East Coast Expressway.

He said Umno Youth rejected any future increases in toll for all highways.

“Same goes for other price increases. Although we understand the need for these painful steps, the reality is that the people can no longer take any more and have reached their breaking point. 

“So this is enough. Do not add more to the people’s burden. Do not douse petrol on the flames of anger in people’s hearts.”

He also urged the government not to increase fares blindly, without thinking of ways to lessen the people’s burden.

For instance, he said, when highway tolls increased, the youth were told to take public transport, but now the Komuter and ERL ticket prices would also be increased.

“What other choice do the people have, ask them to travel by foot? In many other countries, youth are given the same discounts as senior citizens to enjoy various public facilities. 

“If we want to help the youth, now is the time. I have seen the increase in Komuter fares, for example, become such a strain.

“Give youth a discount… do not increase the fares blindly without thinking of other steps that can lighten this load.”

He added that the wing only wanted to hear “good news” in the next two years.

This is because the government will have made substantial savings from the goods and services tax (GST), subsidy rationalisation, and increase in tariffs, tolls and fares.

“It is time that we use all the savings obtained through these painful measures, to give something back to them. Show that these rationalisation measures can bring good to them.”

Khairy said some might ask why he did not raise this issue in the Cabinet, since he was youth and sports minister.

But he said his stand inside and outside the Cabinet remained the same.

- TMI