PETALING JAYA: MCA has criticised the government for not setting petrol prices that are reflective of global oil prices, which had dropped sharply.
Its president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong raised questions as to why the RON95 petrol price remained at RM2.20 per litre when global oil prices have decreased.
“The drop in global oil prices has been apparent since two months ago.
“Many feel that the (true) RON95 petrol price has dropped from its current price of RM2.20 per litre and that the government has been collecting taxes worth RM100mil every week.
“Many have also opined that the true RON95 petrol price is RM1.90 per litre, or even lower,” he said.
Wee called on the government to clarify the matter regarding RON95 petrol prices.
“If you have been collecting petrol ‘tax’ in the last two months and not dispensing subsidy as was promised, you at least need to have the courage to tell the truth to the rakyat,” he said in a Facebook post on Saturday (Dec 22).
He added that the previous administration never imposed a "tax" for the RON95 petrol as far back as 10 years ago.
Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had earlier also taken to Facebook to question the government over the matter of petrol prices.
“Budget 2019 announced by (Finance Minister Lim) Guan Eng was based on the assumption that the Brent oil prices were at US$72 per barrel at the beginning of last month, but after that, global oil prices have continuously tumbled.
“Last night, the Brent oil price was about US$52 a barrel,” he said.
Najib added that the real RON95 price is at RM1.90 per litre and that the government had ‘imposed’ a tax of 30 sen per litre on RON95 petrol.