Govt will not raise fuel prices, minister promises

Coordinating People's Welfare Minister Agung Laksono assured the public that the government would not raise fuel prices this year since such a policy was viewed as contradictory to the efforts to eradicate poverty.

“Believe me, the government will not increase fuel prices despite calls for it from various sides. The President has repeatedly stated that,” he said Sunday, as quoted by kompas.com.

Agung explained that increasing fuel prices was a risky move as it carried economic and social resistance. However, he pointed out that the government’s stance did not mean that it was uncertain about its economic policies, particularly those concerning fuel.

He said that the government had given the public an option regarding the energy they used for their vehicles, similar to the way it campaigned for the conversion of kerosene to gas for household kitchen fuel.

“We have learned from the conversion of kerosene to LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas), which has been going as planned. Some people that choose not to use LPG would buy the non-subsidized kerosene without any friction being caused,” he said.