COMMENT | Come down hard on price hikes over diesel subsidy changes

COMMENT | The government should wield the big stick on those who exploit the diesel subsidy rationalisation to raise prices indiscriminately given that all those affected have or will have some form of subsidy post the diesel price increase Monday.

Despite the more than 50 percent increase in diesel prices at the pump to RM3.35 per litre from RM2.15 per litre, the fact is that most diesel users (barring those for some personal use and some limited commercial purposes) already get subsidies and will continue to be subsidised post the implementation of the new pump prices.

Exceptions are for a small group of personal vehicle users who earn more than RM100,000 a year. The others will receive a subsidy of RM200 per month which will be more than enough for most people to offset price increases.

That means that the entire system in the supply chain of goods and services where diesel is a cost element will be virtually unaffected by the change in pump prices because...