Nasdem Backs Govt over Fuel Price Hike

Jakarta (Antara) - National Democratic (NasDem) Party Chairman Surya Paloh said he supports the government's plan to increase the prices of subsidized fuels because it is aimed at improving the people's welfare. "I do understand that the fuel price hike is not popular but NasDem supports it because it is for a greater good of our people," he said in his remarks at the third commemoration of his party here Tuesday. Paloh said he was not worried about NasDem's image as a result of his party's political stance. Instead, this government's plan should not only be backed up by NasDem but also those from the Red-White Coalition -- the opposition camp in the House of Representatives, he said. Energy Minister Sudirman has reiterated the government's plan to raise the fuel prices, saying that the announcement would be personally made by President Joko Widodo. "So, we have to wait for the president's arrival back home," he said. President Joko Widodo is currently in China to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, and thereafter, he will fly to Myanmar for the ASEAN summit and later to Australia for the G20 summit. He is scheduled to return home on November 16. President Joko Widodo has decided to shift the fuel subsidy to other sectors that are considered more productive such as education, health, and infrastructure, as a result of which the price of subsidized fuel oils will increase. No decision, however, has been made with regard to when the price of subsidized oils would be hiked. Vice President Jusuf Kalla confirmed that the price hike would come into effect this month. (*)