According to Mustafa Kamal, a PKS faction figure, at the internal meeting of the House`s PKS faction it was decided to seek the most moderate option in response to the public`s wishes to not have the fuel price hike enacted.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) faction in the House of Representatives (DPR) has asked the government to cancel the planned fuel oil price increase, which will be decided at the plenary session here on Friday.

"Reports from a PKS faction member at the House`s Budgetary section state that judging from the state budget 2012, it is possible for the government not to increase the subsidized fuel oil prices," Mustafa Kamal, a PKS faction figure, said at the parliament building here on Friday.

According to Kamal, at the internal meeting of the House`s PKS faction it was decided to seek the most moderate option in response to the public`s wishes to not have the fuel price hike enacted.

Further, the PKS faction in the House will consider those options that emerge during the plenary meeting on Friday, Mustafa said.

The government, he said, should not allow fuel prices to be dependent on international market prices, so every price increase will not affect subsidized fuel prices in the country.

Refrizal, another PKS faction member, also said that the PKS faction will unanimously reject the government`s plan to increase the subsidized fuel prices during the House`s plenary session.

The government is planning to raise the price of subsidized fuel oil on April 1 and has submitted two options to the House of Representatives (DPR).

The government has sought to raise the price of subsidized premium gasoline from Rp4,500 to Rp6,000 per liter, and diesel oil from Rp4,500 to Rp6,000 per liter.

On March 29, the Golkar Party also stated its position, saying that it is not necessary to raise subsidized fuel oil prices, as planned by the government on April 1.

"Golkar party believes it is in the government`s domain to decide whether or not to raise the fuel oil prices," Golkar Party secretary general Idrus Marham said in a press statement at the party`s headquarters, here on March 29. (*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2012