COMMENT In February this year, Prime Minister Najib Razak stated that the price of RON95 would be sustained in spite of the rise in global oil prices.

Come April, Ismail Sabri Yaakob, formerly minister of domestic trade, cooperatives and consumerism, stated, “Petrol is a major essential item and if the government increases the price, it will result in traders resorting to hiking their prices as well and this will burden the people.”

That month, Najib assured Malaysians that subsidies would continue under his administration as he was focussed on controlling the rising cost of living.