Fuel hike: Malaysia Day gift for Sabahans,Sarawakians

UN rapporteur Patrick Sindu questioned the federal government's decision when the two states jointly produce RM60 million worth of fuel daily for Malaysia.

KOTA KINABALU: Human rights and consumer activist Patrick Sindu has cried foul at Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak for allowing a hike in fuel prices on the onset of Malaysia’s golden jubilee on Sept 16.

“I am totally disappointed by the announcement of Najib’s government to increase the price of petrol as well as diesel in conjunction with the coming Malaysia Day celebration.

“Is this the gift from the Federal Government to us, especially in Sabah and Sarawak, the two states that jointly produce a RM60 million worth of fuel daily for Malaysia?” asked Sindu when contacted by FMT.

Najib’s government without a prior hint went ahead with the increase of 20 sen per each litre of RON95 petrol and diesel, and 15 sen increase for every litre of a higher grade petrol, RON97.

Sindu who was recently appointed by the United Nations as its rapporteur for human rights for the Asia-Pacific region, also said he was bewildered at the timing of the announcement as Najib had only in May – during the general election – promised that there would be no hike in fuel prices in the near future.

“In fact if my memory is correct, Najib even pledged that the price could well go down. Now he has not kept his words and it was all just a false hope for the people to return Barisan Nasional to Putrajaya,” he said.

Sindu warned that the low-income groups would be hardest hit by the current hike as it has a chain-effect on the prices of other goods and services.

“With this fuel price increase, production cost of other goods would inevitably rise too. This situation would be compounded by the impending introduction of GST (Goods and Services Tax) and possibly side-effects of an imminent TPPA (Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement),” he said.

When asked about Sabah-based BN lawmakers praising Najib’s decision to hike fuel price as good for the low-income people, Sindu said these lawmakers did not have the moral right to speak on behalf of the poor and low-income groups as they are rich and could afford any hike of price.

“They should speak for the people or Sabah consumers and not for Najib on this increase of fuel prices.

“I think they don’t know what they are talking and definitely they don’t don’t understand consumerism,” he pointed out, commenting on statements by Kinabatangan MP, Bung Mokhtar Raden and Liawan assemblyman, Sairin Karno.

RM500 billion debt

Bung Mokhtar was reported to have said that the increase in fuel price would not have effect on kampung folks as they don’t own cars. His statement had since come under heavy attack in the social media including blogs.

Sairin, meanwhile, yesterday said the hike in fuel price was not a big problem for Sabah consumers and in fact was to help the poor and the needy as Najib had given priority to these groups of people.

Sindu, who had just returned from Brunei, said the Malaysian ringgit was weakening because of the huge debt incurred by the Federal Government.

“The Brunei dollar used to value at RM2.35 but now it is RM2.65 to our currency.

“The government is very weak now. Najib must use his administrative power of his office to curb inflation and help the people and consumers at large, and not to over-burden them under the weight of a huge debt.

” I don’t understand why must a country with only 27 million population have a RM500 billion debt,” he added.