KOTA KINABALU: The Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KKCCCI) yesterday expressed surprise at the government’s decision to increase the price of RON95 and diesel by 20 sen effective Monday midnight.
Its president Michael Lui said that while he concurred with the Prime Minister DAtuk Seri Najib Tun Razak that the move would strengthen the financial position of the federal government in the short term, he was concerned about its effects.
He said he was also worried about the resultant inflation that would affect the business community and burden the average people.
Nevertheless, Najib’s assurance on increasing the rate for the Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) for the low income citizens would be a measure to cushion the impact slightly, Lui said in a statement.
He reckoned that the federal government should seriously consider subsidizing diesel for the transportation sector to minimize the cost of transporting basic goods for the people.
He also appealed to the federal government to improve the infrastructural facilities such as the public transport system, monorail system, upgrading the railways, buses, main roads, and public car park buildings so as to minimize the dependency of the people on diesel and petrol.
“Once, the overall infrastructural facilities are upgraded, the public transport system can reduce the dependency of private cars jamming the high ways and the city centre,” said Lui.