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©The Star (Used by permission)
by Looi Sue-Chern

GEORGE TOWN: The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry has indicated that fuel prices may go down some more soon.

Its Minister Datuk Seri Shahrir Abdul Samad confirmed that there was still room for fuel prices to drop in the near future but he would not say by how much.

“I can only confirm that there is still room for prices to drop.

“However, I do not think the fuel rebate system will continue after the cycle ends in March next year as most consumers preferred to have the rebate put into the price of petrol charged at the pumps,” he said in a press conference at Sunshine Square in Bayan Baru on Sunday after launching the supermarket’s price reduction campaign.

Petrol and diesel prices at the pump dropped to RM1.90 per litre for RON97 petrol and RM1.80 per litre for RON92 petrol early this month.

When asked if the Ministry would impose a floor price for fuel, Shahrir said the Ministry had no such plans.

On subsidies given to taxi drivers when the fuel price was above RM1.92, he said they should now buy fuel at the current pump price.

“The subsidies allowing them to buy petrol at RM1.92 were given when fuel prices were high. Now that petrol price is below RM1.92, they should stop using their subsidy cards.

“Subsidies are not things that carry you all the way. Taxi drivers should also be happy that the price has gone down,” he said.

Shahrir also said taxi drivers using diesel can use their subsidy cards to buy diesel at RM1.43 rather than paying the RM1.80 pump price.

“There is no reason why they cannot make a reasonable living with the subsidy,” he said.

Earlier, Shahrir commended Suiwah Corporation Bhd for reducing the price of 600 types of products, ranging from fresh and frozen foods to daily necessities, in its campaign that began on Nov 8.

He also urged state governments and local authorities to do their part to keep prices of goods at a reasonable level.

“Efforts to reduce prices of consumer products are not the sole responsibility of the Federal Government.

“Price reduction is not a Barisan Nasional campaign. At a time like this when we are anticipating very challenging times next year, we need to see how we can work together for the people,” he said.

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