Malaysia's opposition and rights groups have issued an ultimatum to the government to reverse a recent fuel price hike by December or face a mass street protest.
The demand by PROTES, a coalition of student and human rights groups as well as opposition parties, adds to pressure on the government which is trying to shore up its popularity while curbing the budget deficit.
The government on July 15 raised prices of the most popular blend of petrol by 2.7 percent and sugar by 15 percent.
The move would save the government RM750 million to stem a budget
deficit that hit a 20-year high of 7 percent of gross domestic product
last year.
PROTES said it would launch an awareness campaign next month and issued
the government with five demands that include re-instating the fuel, gas
and sugar subsidies as well as introducing a minimum wage.
It said it would give the government until December 15 -- the end of the
next parliament session -- to meet its demands or face a major
demonstration in Kuala Lumpur.
-- 938Live