MPR speaker opposes fuel hike plan

MPR speaker opposes fuel hike plan

JAKARTA: Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR)
Hidayat Nurwahid urged the government to delay the planned fuel
hike.

He said that the government must first complete the
disbursement of compensation funds for disadvantaged people as a
result of the earlier reduction in the subsidy before launching
the second hike.

He added that raising fuel prices during Ramadhan in October
and Christmas would create "confusion among the people". The
government has said it planned to raise fuel prices early next
month.

Hidayat, of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), which is part
of a coalition supporting the current administration, said that
the government should also listen to suggestions from previous
presidents Megawati Soekarnoputri and Abdurrachman Wahid, who on
Wednesday issued a joint statement along with other top political
figures calling on the government to drop the fuel hike plan,
citing fears of social unrest. -- JP