Opposition plan for mass fuel hike protests

malaysianinsider - Opposition groups today vowed to push ahead with plans for mass protests against a sharp 41 percent hike in gasoline prices, despite the government's pledge not to further raise prices this year.

The price hike last week has sparked sporadic protests nationwide. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi sought to calm public anger, promising yesterday to keep prices fixed at the current level for the rest of the year.

Shamsul Iskandar Akin, a leader of the GERAMM youth coalition against oil price hike, dismissed Abdullah's pledge and said the hike has led prices to rise across the board and caused further hardship for the poor.

Malaysia as a net oil exporter, benefits from rising global oil prices and people are questioning why profits from national oil firm Petronas aren't used as subsidies, he said.

"The government's action (to raise prices drastically) is crazy. It shows their failure in managing the economy," he told reporters. "We will continue with peaceful protests to demand the government reverse its decision. A march is planned tomorrow from a mosque in downtown Kuala Lumpur to the Petronas Twin Towers, where Petronas headquarters is based."

Police, meanwhile, have said they may have to close the road leading to the Kampung Baru mosque where protestors are scheduled to gather after Friday prayers tomorrow.... selanjutnya.

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