SHAH ALAM – Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Akmal Saleh has criticised Kampar MP Chong Zhemin over his stance on fuel prices, accusing the latter of changing position after becoming part of the government.
Akmal said opposition leaders had previously gone to great lengths, including staging protests nationwide, to question the same issue.
He said he had long understood the fuel pricing mechanism since the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration.
“It is not me who failed to understand. We have long understood this fuel price formula since BN was in power.
“But back then, you and your friends failed to understand it, to the point of protesting on the streets and travelling across the country claiming there was a formula to lower fuel prices.
“When you were in the opposition, you strongly opposed it, but now that you are in government, you support it,” he said in a Facebook post on Thursday.
Previously, Chong had accused Akmal of playing populist rhetoric on the fuel price issue, which could mislead the public.
The DAP representative said Akmal’s statement showed a lack of understanding of the basic structure of Malaysia’s fuel pricing system, which is determined based on the average price of the previous week rather than daily market prices.
Akmal also took a swipe at Chong, suggesting he inform him if any demonstrations were organised.
“The one using god-level rhetoric is you and your friends, bro.
“If there is any protest by DAP to lower fuel prices, please let me know. I would like to join,” he said.