NU Backs Subsidized Fuel Price Hike

Jakarta (Antara) - The central executive board of the Islamic organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) has expressed support to the government's plan to raise the prices of subsidized fuel oils. "Fuel oil subsidy has been burdensome to the State Budget. We had better divert the subsidy to productive activities," NU General Chairman KH Said Aqil Siroj said after the conclusion of NU national congress and conference here on Sunday. The fuel subsidy which reaches an estimated Rp400 trillion per year should be used to finance activities which directly benefit the low-income people such as farmers and fishermen, he said. Said Aqil stated that NU which is the country's largest Islamic organization is highly aware that supporting subsidized fuel price hike is not as popular as the government's decision to slash fuel subsidy. But the organization must take the stand for the benefit of the people at large, he said. "We must think maturely. We know how heavy the burden of the state budget is. The budget fund of Rp400 trillion is more useful to develop and empower the poor," he said. Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Sofyan Djalil has hinted that the new government will increase subsidized fuel prices before January 2015. (*) Reporting by Sigit Pinardi