BAGAN DATUK: The National Economic Council will discuss options to deal with the recent fuel price hikes tomorrow, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The meeting, which is expected to be chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is also finance minister, will discuss ways to deal with the fuel prices which have risen for five weeks in a row, including the possibility of the return of fuel subsidies.
He said the Finance Ministry would also present its findings and recommendations to the council.
“(As for the implementation of the recommendation), let the prime minister make the announcement. The fuel prices have been going up in recent weeks, but they follow global prices,” he said after opening the national-level National Blue Ocean Strategy fiesta in SMK Hutan Melintang earlier today.
“Since we adopted the new mechanism (in April), the net difference of petrol price increase has been 74 sen. The prices have increased and decreased several times.”
The price hikes in consecutive weeks was a cause for concern for many, with some quarters calling for the reintroduction of subsidies.
Domestic Trade, Consumerism, and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin had said that he was willing to bring up the issue to the cabinet should there be a steep fuel price hike.
The prices stand at RM2.38 per litre for RON95 petrol, RM2.66 per litre for RON97, and RM2.25 per litre for diesel.
It was reported that Malaysia had spent close to RM29 billion to subsidise RON95, RON97 and diesel fuel in 2013 prior to the removal of subsidies.
Zahid later attended the Safety for Children Seminar organised by the Social Institute of Malaysia.
In his speech, he said the family institution played a crucial role in shaping children who would one day become leaders.
“The responsibility to address social ills such as bullying and the rising juvenile crimes should not be left in the hands of the government and its agencies. Children as young as 7 were reported to have been involved in drug abuse.
“If there are bullying incidents, for instance, please report to the police so that investigations can be carried out and actions can be taken. There were unreported cases as the principals wanted to protect the school image.
“We must be a society that cares if we want to safeguard the future of the children,” he said, adding that a total of 2,332 bullying cases were reported between 2012 and June this year.