Rationale behind fuel increase questioned

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KUCHING: The rural folk would be most hard hit by the recent fuel hike as there would be a domino effect on prices of all goods, said state DAP vice chairman Leon Jimat Donald.

“It is absolutely disheartening that we, as an oil producing country, have one of the highest petrol prices; as well as seeing the recent hike in oil prices by the government despite the price of global crude is declining,” he said yesterday.

“The continual reduction of petrol subsidy that results in higher pump price is due to wastage, corruption, and cronyism.

On Thursday, the price for every litre of RON95 petrol and diesel went up by 20 sen following announcement from Putrajaya, saying that it was reducing the fuel subsidy in line with the rationalisation policy to ensure that the country’s financial status would remain strong.

On another matter, Leon – who is also DAP Sri Aman chief – said he had been helping 102-year-old Ngayan Sigai of Rumah Ringgit at Ibol in Sri Aman on the application for welfare aid.

It was claimed that the Welfare Department had been denying Ngayan’s requests for assistance.

According to Leon, the elderly was nearly losing hope and only after meeting her grandson, did she muster enough courage to meet him for help.

“Ngayan, of all people in Sri Aman, should be given the welfare aid. She has to commute every two weeks to Sri Aman Hospital to get her medication.

“The only excuse that the Welfare Department could give her was that she’s still very healthy; thus she’s not qualified for any welfare aid,” said Leon, adding that he would write to the Welfare, Women and Family Development Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah on Ngayan’s situation.

“I pray that she (Ngayang) would be able to receive welfare aid, especially in these trying times where the cost of living keeps on rising,” he said.