GEORGE TOWN, May 4 — Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil has said the Cabinet has not discussed a price hike for petrol and diesel yet.
The Unity Government’s spokesman dismissed international media reports suggesting the government has decided to announce a price hike for petrol and diesel.
The matter has not been discussed by the Cabinet before, including during last week’s meeting.
“I have studied the matter carefully and can confirm here that the matter was not discussed because I am also a Cabinet minister. Therefore, do not put the cart before the horse, and do not announce (it) before it has been announced.
“We are aware that several foreign-based media have pre-empted the process, and I hope all parties, including the media, can obtain information from credible sources,” he said during the Jiwa Madani programme at SMKA (P) Al-Mashoor today.
Fahmi also reminded all media not to publish reports based on sources that have not been verified or identified.
“We recently saw that the Digital Minister (Gobind Singh Deo), who was in Penang in April, spoke of the Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB). A week before that, foreign media reports claimed the implementation of the 5G network was down and out. It was as if everything had been decided.
“A week after, Gobind announced that the Board of Directors in DNB had been increased, and the process was going on. Secondly, the issue of the casino licence (issued in Johor) was claiming it would be announced soon,” he said.
Therefore, the minister hopes the Madani community can assist in tackling slanderous issues and fake news more systematically.
As such, the media, the Madani community, and the government could work together to ensure the information reaching the people is authentic, reliable, and true while waiting for the laws and provisions for the Malaysia Media Council bill to be tabled in Parliament.
Yesterday, foreign media reports stated that Malaysia is set to cut fuel subsidies by June, a major economic reform which will be a key test of support for the Pakatan Harapan-led unity government as the public grapples with high living costs.
The reports quoted official and industry sources, who said that diesel prices will float to market rates in a matter of weeks after the Kuala Kubu Baharu by election on May 11, and will be followed by a staggered rise in retail rates of petrol.
— Bernama
