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.
By Luke Rintod
duit tu nanti sama juga akan disalur kembali kepada rakyat untuk pembangunan fasiliti, ekonomi dan sosial...tidak payah mau kecoh banyak lah patrick..
ReplyDeleteBenar, segala program dan rancangan harus memanfaatkan rakyat.
Deletewhat the govt do is for the rakyat...the rakyat always come first...
ReplyDeleteMeskipun berdepan pelbagai cabaran, Sabah mencatatkan pertumbuhan ekonomi dan pelaburan yang kukuh
ReplyDeletedijangkakan tekanan inflasi sederhana akibat daripada kenaikan harga bahan api baru-baru ini tetapi harga di negeri tersebut diunjur kekal stabil dan boleh diurus bagi tempoh selebihnya tahun ini dan seterusnya.
ReplyDeletekemajuan ekonomi Sabah adalah hasil daripada Program Transformasi Ekonomi
ReplyDeleteHampir 68% daripada pekerjaan yang diwujudkan diisi oleh orang Malaysia
ReplyDeletePara peniaga jangan ambil kesempatan mahu kasi naik harga barang
ReplyDeleteYang perlu menanggung beban masih rakyat sendiri.
DeleteKerajaan perlu mengambil tindakan tegas terhadap mereka yang cuba mengaut keuntungan dengan kenaikan harga minyak dan diesel
ReplyDeleteorang-orang seperti itu harus menerima hukuman yang setimpal.
DeleteKerajaan harus memantau semua kedai dan restoran di seluruh negeri bagi memastikan tiada peniaga yang menaikkan harga barangan sesuka hati.
ReplyDeletebarang-barang keperluan lain seperti gula, tepung, minyak masak dan gas masih lagi dalam kawalan.
Deleteperlu ada tindakan wajar kepada peniaga yang menaikkan harga sesuka hati.
Deletemasa ini kerajaan menanggung subsidi sebanyak 83 sen seliter bagi RON95 dan RM1 seliter bagi diesel. Jumlah bahan api yang diperuntukkan oleh kerajaan bagi tahun ini ialah RM24.8 bilion.
ReplyDeleteKalau mahu kasi banding dengan negara-negara jiran, harga minyak di Malaysia masih antara yang termurah di rantau ini.
Deletekenaikan harga diesel dan RON95 disebabkan oleh kenaikan harga minyak global berikutan krisis di negara2 pengeluar minyak di asia barat...benda senang mau fikir macam ni pun, pembangkang tidak mampu buat...apatah lagi kalau jadi kerajaan...
Deletejika kerajaan terus-menerus memberi subsidi, golongan tertentu mendapat manfaat juga.
Deletepembangkang sengaja mensensasikan isu ini untuk menggalakkan rakyat membenci kerajaan..inilah taktik pembangkang...hasut, kutuk dan janji..
ReplyDeleteitu sudah tentu. isu-isu seperti inilah yang dinanti-nantikan oleh pembangkang.
Deleteyang suka menipu rakyat ialah pembangkang...lihat saja di negeri2 di bawah pentadbiran pembangkang yang mana janji2 pru12 belum pun tertunai, sudah buat janji baru...janji anwar untuk pencen pun tinggal janji kosong...pembangkang lah yang suka berjanji kosong.
ReplyDeletePRU14 ada point lagi untuk dijadikan janji kepada rakyat.
Deletepembangkang ketandusan isu...pasal tu lah apa saja yang dilakukan oleh kerajaan untuk kesejahteraan rakyat diperbesarkan dan diburukan...pembangkang bukannya hirau pasal kesejahteraan rakyat, tetapi hanya pentingkan agenda politik mereka sahaja..
ReplyDeletemula la pembangkang mahu jadi hero.
DeleteClearly can see the government has tight cashflow now.
ReplyDeleteharga pasaran minyak bukan dapat dikawal...ikut harga pasaran global...kalau naik, terpaksa kita kasi naik juga, kalau turun, kita kasi turun juga...tiada yang bersalah dalam isu ini...pembangkang saja mahu kasi konfius rakyat..
ReplyDeletepasti pembangkang banyak kerja baru kasi hasut rakyat.
Deletesusah juga mahu cakap pasal minyak ni. harga minyak mengikut keadaan pasaran.
ReplyDeletekalau pembangkang mana diorang faham tu...diorang tu ikut suka hati saja mau cakap..pasal tu lah apa saja yang pembangkang cakap adalah cakap kosong, apa saja yang pembangkang janji adalah janji kosong.
Deletethe government can never make a decision that may affect the citizens, it is impossible. what the government did was in favor of the people
ReplyDeletei believe the time will come when everyone will praise the government for a job well done
ReplyDeletefor your information, the hike in price was not only in Sabah and Sarawak alone. it goes across the nation
ReplyDeletethe fund will surely come back to the people in terms of economical and social developments
ReplyDeletethe government did this just to be able to meet up with the vision they have for the people
ReplyDeletewe all know that good things does not come easy and it sometimes come with a prices.i trust the government that they will utilize the fund appropriately for the benefit of the people.
ReplyDeleteHarga naik minyak pasal perang di syria
ReplyDeleteThis is so long gone
ReplyDeleteBukan hadiah apa2 pun
ReplyDeleteI think you really have mistaken old baby
ReplyDeleteFind out the truth
ReplyDelete