Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said today that any strike action to protest the abolition of the diesel super subsidy for commercial lorries would be "unfair" and "uncalled for".

Lorry drivers had long benefited from the super subsidy and the government was still subsidising diesel to the tune of RM1 a litre, he told reporters in response to a question on a rumour of a planned strike.

Ismail Sabri noted that commercial lorry operators had been paying RM1.48 per litre of super subsidised diesel for the past five years.

Now they are charged RM1.80 per litre because the regular subsidy remained.

"Otherwise, they would need to fork out RM2.80 like the industry players," he said after launching the Retail Academy at the Cooperatives College of Malaysia in Petaling Jaya.

"So, under the circumstances, any strike is uncalled for and unreasonable. Anyone planning such a move should rethink," he said.

The government abolished the super subsidy for commercial lorries on Wednesday, but retained it for public transportation.

The abolition followed the rise in fuel prices worldwide.

- Bernama

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