Harakah Daily -Sept 3: It is great to know that the fuel price hike announced yesterday will save the country approximately RM1.1 billion. But the bigger question is how will the money be spent?
“How will the saving be spent we must know. Lets hope not in urban areas. Please remember who saved BN last May 5,” wrote former group editor of UMNO's New Straits Times A. Kadir Jasin in his blog today.
Najib yesterday announced a 20 sen hike for both RON95 and diesel to RM2.10 and RM2 a litre starting today.
The move was part of government’s subsidy rationalisation initiative that would see a saving of RM1.1 billion for this year and RM3.3 billion annually for subsequent years.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s department Abdul Wahid Omar said inflation rate would spike to 2.3 percent this year following the fuel hike.
Najib had insisted that the pain of the rising cost due to fuel price hike would be bearable as country is enjoying low inflation rate. He also said the amount of BR1M (1Malaysia People's Aid) cash handout would be increased to cushion the impact.
Earlier, PAS information chief Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the government had shot itself on the foot on controlling inflation by hiking fuel price amid weakening ringgit.
Meanwhile, Kadir reminded Najib of public perception that viewed his government as spendthrift.
“Expenditure for PM’s overseas trip has cost RM44.07 million since Najib became PM 5 years ago. How much was spent on repairing and renovating their official residence?”
“They live lavishly inside. Outside, the people suffer,” Kadir chided.
In 2012, Najib allocated RM65 million to renovate his official residence, Seri Perdana in Putrajaya.
The government also spent RM1.76 million running Seri Perdana and RM1.59 million to maintain the deputy prime minister’s Sri Satria residence.
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