KUALA LUMPUR, 22 Aug 2008: Retail petrol price of RON97 has been reduced by 15 sen to RM2.55 per litre while retail diesel price reduced by eight sen to RM2.50 per litre effective tomorrow, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced in Putrajaya today.
This came just two days after he denied that the government was planning to announce the new fuel prices before polling day for the Permatang Pauh by-election on 26 Aug 2008, as predicted by some sources.
The prime minister had originally said the new price structure would only be announced on 31 Aug and take effect the next day.
"The cabinet today decided to bring forward the enforcement date for adjustment of the new petrol price,” Abdullah told reporters after chairing the cabinet meeting.
The petrol price was determined by taking into account the actual price from 1 to 21 Aug and the 30 sen per litre subsidy borne by the government while the subsidy for diesel, based on the new price, was 50 sen a litre. – Bernama
