Fuel Price Hike To Burden People: President

Jakarta, Aug 30 (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said his government will not raise subsidized fuel prices because it will further burden the people. "If I raise the price again this year it will gravely burden the people. It is pitty to let them bear the burden," President Yudhoyono said here on Friday evening. He said that over the past several years, the government has taken a number of policies regarding price hikes. The government hiked fuel prices by 33 percent in 2013, electricity rate and in the near future the price of gas in 12-kg cylinder. If the prices of subsidized fuels are increased it will put further burden on the people, Yudhoyono stated. The president noted that fuel oil price increase would boost good price hikes (inflation) and drive further poverty rate. "So, there no strong logical reason for hiking fuel prices now. Moreover, we have decided to increase the prices of electricity and 12-kg cylinder gas. This is the position of the current government," President Yudhoyono said.