|
Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia's ruling coalition rejected calls to reconsider a sharp rise in petrol and diesel prices on Friday as barely half a dozen people turned out for an opposition-backed protest in the nation's capital.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's party met yesterday seeking to weather criticism of the unpopular price hikes that come on top of a poor showing in elections earlier this year.
The two-day meeting of the supreme council of the United Malays National Organisation was meant to set out a blueprint to revitalise the party following the election in March.
"No," Domestic Trade Minister Shahrir Samad told reporters when asked if the government would bring fuel prices back to their earlier level. He shrugged off street pro-tests, saying "groups will take advantage of the situation".
"I don't think there is going to be a political backlash because in the end there are other aspects of the overall programme that we are giving back to the people."
|
