Diesel price hike a thorny issue for Malaysia’s durian sellers
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
With increased diesel prices, sellers are finding it more expensive to transport fresh durians daily.
PHOTO: ST FILE
Follow topic:
NIBONG TEBAL – Durian sellers, especially those from mainland Penang, are already feeling the pinch of transporting the fruit from Balik Pulau – no thanks to the diesel price increase.
However, the good news is that prices for the fruit have not increased so far.
Mr William Ang, 31, who collects durians from orchards up the hills in Balik Pulau some 50km away, said the price hike will be difficult to bear.
“To keep the durians fresh, we must collect them daily. We can only do this by driving a pickup truck to the orchards and loading the fruits,” he said.
“Not only do we drive up the hills in Balik Pulau – the journey also includes driving across the second Penang Bridge, which is about 20km long.
“The usual RM100 (S$29) worth of diesel that would usually last me three days can now only sustain me for two days,” he said while manning his stall in Tasek Mutiara.
Mr Ang said although the government’s decision to withdraw the subsidy for diesel was supposed to be a good move to help the country save money and channel the money towards better causes, it definitely has an impact on people like him.
“I haven’t received any subsidies or aid yet. But the price of diesel is suddenly so expensive. The RM200 subsidy under the Budi Madani programme will not be enough to cover a fraction of our expenses.
“Yet, I cannot increase the retail price of my durians, as variants such as the Black Thorn already cost RM85 per kg now. My customers will run away if I sold durians for more than RM100 per kg.”
With the upcoming Sungai Bakap by-election, Mr Ang hopes that the new assemblyman would help voice out the plight of low-income groups.
Another seller, Mr Ibrahim Saad, 62, whose stall is not far from Mr Ang’s and who also sources his durian from Balik Pulau, said he is lucky that his durian supplier understands.
He said: “I told my supplier that if diesel costs too much for me to use my truck to pick up the fruits, I won’t be able to do so often.”
His supplier also provides him with additional durians for free.
“Although I still pay about the same amount to him for each load of durian, at least I have more to sell, and this helps me cover my daily fuel expenses,” said Mr Ibrahim.
On June 9, Finance Minister II Amir Hamzah Azizan announced the implementation of targeted diesel subsidies beginning the next day, which would result in the government saving some RM4 billion per year, strengthening the country’s financial position.
Diesel prices floated on June 10, retailing at RM3.35 per litre.
This was based on the unsubsidised market price, according to the Automatic Price Mechanism formula for May.
For those in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan, the price remains at the subsidised rate of RM2.15.
THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
