Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today said the administration will announce more measures to ease the burden of rising fuel costs on consumers.
Mr Abdullah, already fighting a challenge to his leadership following a poor showing in a general election in March, said the recent fuel hike decision was a difficult one to make, but that there had not been a choice.
Petrol prices were increased by 41 per cent and diesel 63 per cent in line with a global surge in oil prices, a measure which would drive inflation to a 10-year high of 4.2 per cent in 2008.
"In all honesty, it was a difficult and agonizing decision to make. Many times, we have been tempted to walk away from such a difficult decision," Mr Abdullah said.
He added that the administration planned to announce more measures to lessen the pain for ordinary people after a meeting of the cabinet's anti-inflation unit.
State media reported last week that the government planned measures such as widening the social safety net for the poor, increasing the number of price-controlled items and improving public transport.
Many consumers grumble that they have to face a steep rise in prices despite the fact that Malaysia, Asia's largest net oil exporter, earns $76.8 million (€48 million) a year in revenue for every $1 rise in crude prices.