KUALA LUMPUR: A PKR vice-president says the party must work harder to win the support of the people following its loss in Saturday's Sungai Bakap by-election.
Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said the people's dissatisfaction over government policies, including the diesel subsidy rationalisation, may have affected voter sentiment.
He said the low voter turnout and the increase in Perikatan Nasional's majority in Sungai Bakap was a "clear message" from voters about their dissatisfaction.
"We need to continue explaining the necessity of the (subsidy rationalisation) policy and correct any misunderstandings or slander about certain issues such as the privatisation of Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB)," he told Berita Harian.
The Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister said the government believes the reforms it embarked on are necessary for the country's future.
Citing diesel subsidies which cost the government RM14.3 billion last year, Nik Nazmi said even the opposition acknowledged it was unsustainable.
He said while subsidies were rationalised, those who needed it the most including public transport companies and those moving goods still enjoyed subsidised diesel.
"Carrying on with blanket subsidies is unsustainable in the long run and will burden future generations with debt and take our focus away from energy transition."
Nik Nazmi said local issues such as water supply in Penang also became a focal point in the by-election.
He said Putrajaya has been working closely with the Penang government to resolve the issue, but water infrastructure, which is key in ensuring supply, cannot be developed when tariffs are low.
Nik Nazmi said this was why all state governments, including those under Perikatan Nasional, were seeking an increase in tariffs.
"These initiatives may not be popular but resolving problems is the job of a responsible government," he said, adding implementation delays will only cause bigger problems.
The Setiawangsa member of Parliament also acknowledged that the government must communicate better on issues, including fuel subsidies and MAHB's privatisation among others.