Gerakan proposes fuel prices be revised weekly

Gerakan proposes that fuel prices be revised at least once a week so that the people can reap the benefits immediately.

“When the global fuel price falls, we have to wait a month to feel the benefits. Now the price is at US$82 (RM287) per barrel, this must be felt immediately by the rakyat,” said party president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon after closing the party’s 37th National Delegates Conference on Sunday.

Koh said it was not right that the rakyat should have to wait a month to feel the positive effects of a global fuel price drop when the price drop for crude palm oil could be felt immediately.

“If not floated, at least revise the fuel price once a week, either every Monday or every Sunday, so we can follow the world market closer,” he told reporters after party delegates passed a resolution to strenghten the national economy against the current global recession.

The party also passed a resolution to call for the forming of a Barisan Nasional special task force to look into making changes to laws that require detention without trial.

“It is the party’s stance that Acts that require detention without trial must be amended so that the protection of human rights is preserved,” Koh said.

He said while the party understood that there are many views regarding the matter, Barisan must have this task force to discuss amending laws such as the Internal Security Act, Universities and University Colleges Act and the Printing Presses and Publications Act.

On party reforms, Koh said the conference received many “good ideas” from delegates to strengthen the party and become a more multi-racial one.

“The party has to be more sensitive, more accommodating to different customs and values. Many improvements are needed to make it a more genuinely Malaysian for all party,” he said.

He said most of the “good ideas” could not be revealed as they are strategic secrets but he gave an example of having more multi-racial and multi-cultural events at the grassroots level.

“There are many functions for the Chinese. Why not have Hari Raya Aidilfitri for instance?” Koh said.