Putrajaya, Dec 3 – The government would continue to ensure that the needy would not be burdened by any price increase in the country, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar.
For example, he said, when the price of RON95 and diesel went up by 20 sen per litre in early September following the reduction of government subsidies, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded a rate of 2.6 per cent during the month, and 2.8 per cent in October, adding that any increase under three per cent was still considered low.
Asked if any increase in electricity tariffs would raise inflation, he said every time there was a rise in prices of goods inflation would occur, but the government would ensure that the price increase was at an appropriate rate.
“We need to see the impact of the decision on electricity tariffs. We will make sure that for those who need help, the increase is not too high,” he told reporters after launching the Malaysian Well-Being Report 2013, in Putrajaya, on Monday.
–Bernama