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PressRelease-2014-Don't Look For Scapegoats For Price Hikes - 06 Jan 2014
PressRelease-2014-Don't Look For Scapegoats For Price Hikes - 06 Jan 2014
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I urge the Chief Minister to focus on ways to alleviate and help the ordinary folks cope with rising prices suggested Dr. Jeffrey. There are many steps the Sabah government led by the Chief Minister can do to help the ordinary rakyat. For starters, the Chief Minister and the Sabah government can ask the federal government to reduce petrol and diesel prices in Sabah. If goods produced in the Peninsula is sold at a higher price in Sabah, there is no reason why petrol and diesel from Sabahs oil and gas resources cannot be sold to Sabahans at a lower price especially now in 2014 Sabah will be contributing RM26.6 billion (up from RM17.88 billion) in oil revenue to Petronas and the federal government. Let the petrol price remain higher in the Peninsula. The Sabah government should also ask the federal government to exempt Sabah from the hikes in electricity tariffs and sugar and maintain other subsidies for Sabah. This exemption together with the reduction in petrol and diesel prices should be able to immediately cause some reduction in consumer prices in Sabah. The Sabah government should also seek an immediate revision of the oil royalties to 20% for 2014. This will contribute an additional RM4.2 billion income for the Sabah government which can then be utilized for welfare programs for Sabahans. The question is the Sabah government ready and willing to take action on these suggestions for the benefit of Sabahans?