Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Chief economic minister Hatta Rajasa said the government is currently preparing a regulation to prohibit government office cars from using subsidized fuels.

"It is still being formulated. Later, no office cars will be allowed to use subsidized fuels for efficiency," he said when meeting at the presidential office here on Tuesday.

He added that the ban would be put into an official regulation and the cabinet secretary is still discussing whether it would be issued as a presidential decree, a presidential instruction or other forms of regulation.

He added that the government would provide an exception, especially to regions that have not yet had non-subsidized fuel filling stations.

"Certain regions that have not had non-subsidized `Pertamax` gasoline stations will be exempted. That is understandable," he said.

He mentioned that governments in regions that have already had non-subsidized gasoline filling stations must abide by the regulation and officials violating it would be disciplined.

"I can assure that with regard to government officials," he said.

Hatta added that the regulation is being issued as part of efforts to increase efficiency to aid the national budget.

The House of Representatives voted against the government`s plan to raise the price of subsidized fuels on April 1 and agreed to only allow the government to raise the fuel price if the Indonesian Crude Price rose or declined by 15 percent in the current six month period.

The government`s plan to raise subsidized fuel prices as a means of aiding the budget due to the soaring price of crude oil has drawn protests across the country.
(F008/M041)

Editor: Ella Syafputri
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