Diesel price increase must not breed corrupt profiteering

Zarazilah Mohd Ali

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As announced by second Finance Minister Amir Hamzah Azizan, diesel prices will be floated and will retail at RM3.35 per litre nationwide, starting midnight on Monday, 10 June.

Patriot reminds the business sector not to succumb to corrupt temptations in view of this sudden jump in the cost of diesel.

As has often been the practice in past decades, the private sector never waits a second to increase the price of goods the moment the government announces or implements a fuel price increase.

Passing increased costs to consumers is an unpatriotic stance and must cease.

In the wake of the price increase and floating of diesel now, certainly some (if not many) business operators will not bat an eye in hoarding fuel before the price increase announcement.

Patriot reminds such thieves and those in cohort with them that betraying the nation in their quest for greedy, easy profits at the expense of consumers is an unforgivable tyranny against our beloved nation.

Patriot strongly recommends that enforcement must be very vigilant. There should be no room for corruption, including law enforcers conspiring with thieving diesel robber-merchants.

Patriot is also mindful of transport operators who may even attempt to cut their manpower operating costs by pressuring drivers to do more trips and even overload their lorries.

Hence, the police, the transport ministry and the anti-corruption agency must join hands to coordinate their limited resources to arrest any greedy profiteering by business operators.

While naysayers and opportunistic critics may cast aspersions on the floating of diesel, Patriot hopes we will all join hands to give this diesel repricing attempt a chance to succeed by fighting corruption that is bound to be rooted in sheer greed.

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Lt Col Dato’ Zarazilah Mohd Ali is president of the National Patriots Association (Patriot).

The views expressed in Aliran's media statements and the NGO statements we have endorsed reflect Aliran's official stand. Views and opinions expressed in other pieces published here do not necessarily reflect Aliran's official position.
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