The government has no plan to raise the price or stop the subsidy of RON 95 petrol despite an increase the price of fuel in the global market, Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said.      

He said that if the move was taken, the prices of essential items such as sugar, flour and cooking oil would similarly increase.      

"Petrol is a major essential item and if the government increases the price, it will result in traders resorting to hiking their prices as well and this will burden the people," he told reporters after meeting members of the Bera Umno's "Jalinan Rakyat" outreach programme today.      

He added that the price of RON 95 petrol in the country was still low compared to those in other countries in the region, which is RM1.90 per litre after a subsidy of RM1.09 per litre.      

He said in Thailand, petrol is sold at the equivalent of RM4.71 per litre, RM5.85 per litre in the Philippines, RM5.48 per litre in Singapore and RM3.08 per litre in Indonesia.      

He warned traders against increasing their prices indiscriminately.     

Last year, 100 restaurant operators were hauled up under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2010 for raising their prices indiscriminately, with some charging between 50 sen and RM1 for a glass of plain water, he said.      

"There are no more of such practice and the price of plain water is now less than 50 sen," he said.      

- Bernama