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Prime Minster & Cabinet Minister Should Stop misleading the people about price Hikes.   Media Statement by M. Kula Segaran (Ipoh, Monday ): After increasing arbitrarily the price of petrol and diesel, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi called on manufacturers and shopkeepers traders and hawkers – in general Malaysia businesses – not to pass those price increases on the consumers. This call was echoed by some Cabinet Minister subsequently, particularly the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister, Datuk Shafie Apdal. For instance, Shafie Apdal was reported in the Press on May 21 as having said that the public should be the eyes and ears of the government and report on restaurants which have increased the price of their food and drinks indiscriminately in recent days. Prime Minister Abdullah and Cabinet Minister like Shafie Apdal should stop misleading the people. They should be more honest about the government’s decision to increase the price of petrol and diesel, and admit responsibility for the chain reaction in price hikes caused by that decision.   Buses and taxis and so many other service and goods have increased their price as a direct result of the price increase of petrol and diesel. If restaurants also increase their price, the government should be blamed. The government in the first place should not have increased the petrol and diesel prices, as these are strategic goods or essential consumer items which will inevitably lead to a price hike chain reaction. The main cause of the price hike chain reaction in the country today is the government’s decision to increase the price of petrol and diesel. The people should make mass reports and protest to the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affair about the price hike of petrol and diesel. Other price hikes are merely the consequences of the government’s bad decision. Instead of dishonestly blaming others, the government should be hold and sincere enough to admits its own policy mistake. Better still, it should reverse the price hikes of petrol and diesel. Otherwise, Malaysians should remember that the government is fully and squarely responsible for the current price mess in Malaysia. (30/5/2005) * M. Kula Segaran, MP for Ipoh Barat and DAP National Vice Chairman