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