I call on the government not to be hasty in implementing any new proposal but to set up a bi partisan parliamentary select committee to seek public views and to propose a fair and reasonable fuel subsidy distribution system.
Yesterday, Sin Chew Daily in its front page reported that in a proposed new fuel rationalsation plan to be implemented in the third quarter of this year, motorists with a monthly income of RM5, 000 and cars with an engine capacity of 2,000cc will be entitled to unrestricted purchase of subsidised petrol.
Those who earn between RM5, 000 and RM10, 000 per month will only be able to purchase 300 litres of subsidised RON95 petrol every month and those with a monthly income over RM10, 000 will have to purchase RON97 petrol without any subsidy.
Such a proposal has as expected caused wide anxiety and met with public objections as evident in the printed and internet media.
There is no doubt that the proposal, if implemented , will cause great inconvenience and burden to the motorists as it will involve submission of income documents by motorists to prove eligibility and result in more motorists having to pay more for the petrol.
In fact, many motorists have described the proposal as mere just the government’s way to increase petrol costs which will cause chain effect on costs of other goods.
The government must realize that the people are already burdened with escalating cost of living and the implementation of GST in April next year will further make life difficult for the people.
Hence, the government should not be merely in looking at how much it can save from the so called fuel rationalizing proposal but to ensure that any proposal will be fair and reasonable.
Although Secretary-general of the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism (KPDNKK), Datuk Seri Alias Ahmad has said that the Sin Chew report are mere speculations, Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Hasan Malek has said yesterday that the ministry was gathering ideas and proposals before deciding on the best mechanism that could benefit all parties.
“We are reviewing a few proposals now. Among the suggestions are introducing fleet cards, integrating nanotag technology and imposing quotas “, he said.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib once declared that the era the government knows best is over. He should therefore walk his talk and set up a bi partisan parliamentary select committee to seek public views and to come out with a reasonable and fair proposal.