"The DPD decided to reject the plan to raise fuel prices during its plenary meeting in the Nusantara V. building," DPD member Jasarmen Purba said here on Sunday.
The council believed that the fuel price hike would have a negative impact, he said.
"The vast majority of the Indonesian people do not want fuel prices to be raised, and we must voice their opinions. The DPD firmly rejects
the government`s plan to increase fuel prices," Purba said.
He acknowledged that a fuel price hike would raise the price of other commodities, which would add to the public`s burden.
Purba noted that now was not the right time to increase fuel prices because of the sluggish condition of the economy.
"Raising fuel prices is not the best way to respond to the increase in the global crude oil price," he said.
He further criticized the government for not being transparent in explaining the reasons behind the planned fuel price hike. The government has so far made the global crude price hike an excuse to raise domestic fuel prices, he said, adding that the government should not respond to the global price hike by raising fuel prices.
"We still have other alternatives that we can take," Purba said.
Asked to comment on the government`s plan to distribute a cash handout among the poor to compensate them for the fuel price hike, he said it would not educate the poor; instead, it would contribute to making them increasingly dependent on the government.
(Uu.S012/KR-BSR/INE/O001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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