By ALWIN LAWRENCE
KUCHING: During a Cabinet meeting on Feb 27, the federal government had decided maintain the price of RON95 at RM2.08 per litre and diesel at RM2.18 per litre.
Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said through the weekly plan, the retail fuel prices will be reduced when the world fuel prices drop but when the opposite happens, the government will have no choice but to adjust the prices accordingly.
Nur Farhana Saffinye,25, when met said that the price reduction of petrol indeed helped to lower the transportation cost and it affected the prices of other products too.
“Every time the petrol price increases, the prices of retail products also increase. However, if the petrol price decreases, the prices of retail products do not follow suit,” she said, adding that this is what stresses the public.
She also said that fuel prices are supposed to drop again.
“For me, petrol is essential in order for us to go anywhere. In Peninsular Malaysia the toll rates are even worse.
“That is why I want the price of petrol to be reduced again. Say to RM1.80 per litre if that’s possible,” she said.
She also hoped that the PH government can review the unstable fuel prices in the country because they are affecting the daily lives of the people.
Lina Belly, 26, said she agreed that the price reduction helped her to lower transportation cost.
According to her, she drives to work and thinks that petrol price should be reduced again in line with the increase in the cost of living.
“For me, there is a lot more costs that I have to bear apart from petrol.
“I hope the government can review the expensive fuel prices and try to understand the situation we (citizens) are in,” she said.
Meanwhile, another respondent Lee Mun Wah, 24, said the drop in petrol price helped her to save on her daily expenses.
“Public transportation here is not efficient so I use my car to go to work,” she said.
Lee believed that it would be good if the government can further lower fuel prices.
She continued, “At present the fuel prices are determined on a weekly basis which is think is not good for the consumers. I hope the government can determine the fuel prices on a monthly basis.”
Loqman Hakim, 24, said the drop in fuel prices is something the public always look forward to.
“As consumers, we always wish for a drop in fuel prices in line with PH manifesto,” he said.
However, Loqman added that we also have to understand that in order to reduce the price of the petrol; we have to look at how reasonable the action is from the global perspective.
“Of course the government cannot just reduce or increase fuel prices without any reason but I still hope that the government can fulfill its promises.
“I also hope that the government can find a mechanism in reducing the price of petrol and help consumers to lower their transportation cost,” he said.
Rafiq, 25, on the other hand said is not bothered by the increase or decrease in fuel prices but hoped that fuel prices can be lowered further.
A majority of the public are hopeful that the government will conduct a holistic review on fuel prices, increase in the cost of living and world economic uncertainties.
The government they say needs to hear the people’s grouses and not just dish out empty promises or use their manifesto to woo voters.
