PERMATANG PAUH, May 1 ― Putrajaya likely did not increase fuel prices for the month of May because of the twin by-elections in Permatang Pauh and Rompin, DAP’s Lim Guan Eng alleged last night.
The DAP secretary-general said if not for the polls, pump prices would have likely gone up at midnight.
“If there is no by-election, I'm sure there will be a hike in petrol prices in May,” he said during a Pakatan Rakyat (PR) ceramah at Taman Guar Perahu.
Despite rumours claiming that RON95 would increase by 20 sen this month, it was reported in Bernama last night that the retail prices for RON95, RON97 and diesel will remain the same.
This is despite the Brent crude oil hitting its highest at US$66.72 (RM238) per barrel since last year.
RON95 petrol is currently priced at RM1.95 per litre, RON97 petrol at RM2.25 and diesel at RM1.95 per litre.
Lim also rebutted claims by Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders that Permatang Pauh has been left out of Penang’s development plans, pointing out that the federal constituency now has a five star hotel in Seberang Jaya.
“We know the villagers in rural areas here do not want to be disturbed by massive developments like high rise buildings in their backyard because they want a greener, cleaner and safer environment,” he said.
However, he said this does not mean there is no development in the seat’s rural areas, citing as example the recent introduction of 100 free wifi hotspots across the constituency.
Another example, Lim said, is the new futsal court ― the venue of last night’s ceramah ― which was built by the Penang administration for residents here.
“Then we must not forget the RM8.2 million cash contributions to the people of Permatang Pauh between 2009 and 2014 in the form of our social welfare programmes,” he said.
PKR's Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail is defending the seat against BN’s Suhaimi Sabudin, PRM's Azman Shah Othman and independent candidate Salleh Isahak.
Polling is on May 7.
