Fuel hike: PAS Youth hands memo to PM's Office

PAS Youth has had enough of the lies from federal leaders regarding the fuel price hike and today handed a protest note to the Prime Minister’s Department.

The movement’s deputy chief Nasaruddin Hassan accompanied by six others passed PAS Youth's grievances in a three-page admonishment of the price hike to the prime minister’s senior private secretary Ahmad Yaakop.

Explaining afterwards, Nasaruddin said that the federal government’s new oil price was too sudden and drastic for the people to accept.
His movement was equally dismayed with the lies fed to the public before the hike last Wednesday.

He was referring to both the Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Shahrir Samad.

"Two lies were told prior to the hike. Lie one was issued by Najib during the last general election campaign.”

"He told voters that there would be no petrol hike after the elections," said Nasaruddin (photo, second from left).

Those who believed Najib and convinced themselves that the petrol price will stay at RM1.92 were caught unawares, according to Nasaruddin.

Lie number two came from Shahrir who promised that a fuel price hike will only occur in August. Barely two days after his statement the government increased fuel prices, 78 sen and RM1 for petrol and diesel respectively.

"This is a huge lie and this lie has angered the people, and is totally unacceptable to us," he added.

Crime to rise

"In order to meet the rising costs of living, those in the poorer segments of society may turn to crime," Nasaruddin analysed.

He did not buy the line that removed subsidies will be relayed to the development of a better public transportation system.

"That was the excuse the government gave the last time they raised pump prices by 30 sen. But so far, nothing has improved," he pointed out.

Nasaruddin wanted the government to stop building mega projects which are of little benefit to the people. The various economic corridors, which have not begun yet, should be also put off, he added.

Another concern according to PAS Youth secretary Ahmad Sabki Yusuf, was the transparency of Petronas in handling its money.

With the rise in world fuel prices, Petronas is expected to reap higher profits.

"But where do these profits go?" he quizzed. "Although, they (Petronas) fall under the ambit of the government, its accounts should be made public, so that we know what happens to its money.

"This money is the people's money," Ahmad Sabki said.

Asked what their next course of action would be, Nasaruddin said that the party plans to hold a mass gathering at Kampung Baru mosque this Friday to protest the fuel hike.

Yesterday PAS submitted a memorandum to the Parliament calling for a special session to debate the fuel price hike.