Megawati Agrees With Fuel Price Increases
Tuesday, 13 May, 2008 | 15:58 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Megawati Soekarnoputri, Chairperson of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), has said she agrees with the government's plan to increase fuel prices in the near future.

The rise in world crude oil prices that has reached US$125 per barrel is too much for the state budget.

“We agree with this plan,” she said when visiting East Kalimantan today (13/5).

This statement of Megawati will later be released as an official statement through the PDI-P faction at the House of Representatives (DPR).

Therefore, Megawati asked the government to quickly calculate the increases and announce them to the general public.

Rapid reaction will be required in order to anticipate protests.

Megawati said she considered that the government had been slow in anticipating the fuel price increases.

According to her, the government should have been prepared for this situation much, much earlier.

“The government always moves slowly and is confused in deciding,” she said.

Megawati has arrived at Sepinggan airport in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, to take part in the campaign for PDI-P nominated governor candidates Nursyiwan Ismail and Heru Bambang.

SG Wibisono