Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat has called the move to hike fuel prices as "unwise" and questioned as to why the federal government did not adopt a better alternative.
Fresh from his return from a 13-day umrah pilgrimage, the PAS spiritual leader suggested that the government could have promoted the use of natural gas for vehicles (NGV) over petrol and diesel as a solution to the rising world oil price.
"The decision is unwise, why can't we introduce the use of (natural) gas... the unwise people can't run the country," he told journalists at his home in Pulau Melaka, which is about 20-minute drive away from Kota Bahru, Kelantan today.Nik Aziz said he was "very worried" when he was informed during his umrah of the huge fuel hike which came despite the federal government's assurance to reduce the people's burden.
Last week Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced that the petrol price will see a 40.6 percent rise to RM2.70 per litre while the price of diesel by a whopping 63.3 percent to RM2.58 per litre.
Cheaper, environmentally-friendly
Elaborating on this, Nik Aziz said the government could have considered and come out with measures to promote the use of NGV as it was cheaper and environmental-friendly.
Apart from that, the seasoned politician - who was reading out from a note - said the amount of gas reserve in the country could last for 35 years compared with the oil reserves for 20 years.
"So why don't we use gas? This is what we should question the government. I am embarrassed when I look at our neighbouring country Thailand which has been using it for a long time."The (Malaysian) government is willing to let the people suffer," he argued further.
At present, most users of natural gas are city taxis.
Meanwhile, Nik Aziz also threw his support behind a planned massive demonstration on July 5 organised an opposition-led coalition to protest against the fuel hike.
"This is their basis right... If (the government) doesn't want demonstration, don't do something which is against the people's wish, then there won't be any demonstration," stressed the PAS leader.
The opposition-led anti-fuel hike coalition is seeking to mobilise a record one million people for the mammoth rally at the Kuala Lumpur City Centre next month.
The rally, which was initially slated for July 12, was brought forward to July 5 for tactical reasons, said the organisers today.
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