KOTA KINABALU: Fuel price increase is not all bad, said Communication and Multimedia Minister Datuk Sri Ahmad Shabery Cheek.
Although it might take time for the people to understand the reasoning, he hoped that the public would eventually accept that the move brings more benefits than negative impacts.
“If I have my say, of course like everyone else, I would want the prices of fuel to go down and increase subsidies. But we must understand that when we increase the subsidy, it would mean that we will take the rights of the people for something else.
“The nation needs to be developed, and we need more hospitals. Take the communication system in Sabah as an example, the state received the most amount of allocation.
“Between 2006 and now, some RM800,000 have been channelled to Sabah to improve its communication system here,” he said.
Speaking to reporters after inspecting yesterday the preparation of the Malaysia Day and the celebration of 50 Years of Sabah in Malaysia to be held on Sept 16 at the Prince Philip Park in Tanjung Aru, he said the low fuel price would benefit not only the locals, but also foreigners as Malaysia has the lowest fuel price compared to its neighbouring countries, such as Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore.
“So instead of using the people’s money to raise subsidies, we reduce it so it would be channelled towards others like giving away the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M).
“I believe that more incentives will be give but of course, we have to wait until the unveiling of the 2014 Budget. The government will rationalize it all and how, instead of giving cheaper fuel, we can help the people in many other sectors.
“We realise that initially it is hard to understand but the people need to understand that it would not mean that their income would be lower because the purchasing power has dropped. Instead it would offer more job opportunities, which eventually will benefit the people as well,” he said.