PUTRAJAYA, 23 Sept 2008: The cabinet will discuss tomorrow whether it is possible to reduce the fuel price, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said today.
The prime minister did not give any indication whether the price would drop but said that he hoped it could be reduced as the world crude oil price was now hovering around US$100 per barrel.
“We have to discuss this at the cabinet meeting as matters related to the fuel price and subsidy is decided by the cabinet.
“So it’s better that we wait for the outcome and hope for the best,” he told reporters after chairing the second Economic Executive Council meeting at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre here.
Abdullah said this when asked whether the people could expect any Hari Raya “goodies” from the announcement tomorrow.
On 20 Sept, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad said a decision whether the fuel price would be reduced or retained would be known tomorrow.
The current price of RON97 petrol is RM2.55 per litre while diesel is at RM2.50 per litre.
In June, the government increased the price of petrol and diesel to RM2.70 and RM2.58 respectively when the crude oil price rose to around US$125 per barrel.
Meanwhile, Abdullah was also asked to comment on claims by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Information Chief, Tian Chua, that Pakatan Rakyat had opened talks with the government on the current political impasse.
Dismissing the claim, Abdullah said it was “the craziest report I have ever heard.”
He said there were no such talks with representatives of PKR advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Wire agency reports quoted Tian Chua as saying that the contact, through a third party, was initially made on the weekend and that more than one meetings had taken place ever since. – Bernama
