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KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional MPs attended a three-hour briefing on the restructuring of fuel subsidies at which they were asked to support a motion on price increases which the Government will table in Parliament today.

The closed-door briefing at Angkasapuri yesterday was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. Among those who conducted the briefing were Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Samad, Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed, Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor, Women Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Amirsham Abd Aziz.

Petronas chief executive officer and president Tan Sri Hassan Marican was also present to answer questions concerning fuel subsidies and the need to reduce them.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi then wrapped up the session by giving a 20-minute briefing.

Shahrir will table the motion on the price increase of oil and other goods and on ways to overcome it at the Dewan Rakyat today.

When contacted yesterday, Shahrir said the MPs gave their views on how the Government ought to utilise the contribution from Petronas' revenue.

He said Abdullah had asked the MPs to support the government's motion.

This call comes in view of the possibility of the motion being turned into a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister following the threat by the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) to initiate or support such a vote.

Kinabatangan MP and Backbenchers Club deputy chairman Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin said about 90% of Barisan MPs attended the briefing.

Conspicuously missing were the two SAPP MPs.

Bung Mokhtar said more than a quarter of the questions were directed at Petronas.

He described the mood at the briefing as “very good'' but said he was “not 100% satisfied”.

“But at least, we got a basic understanding of the situation,” he added.

Kota Belud MP Datuk Abd Rahman Dahlan said most MPs did not have any problem understanding all aspects of the economy.

He said this would enable them to back the Government when Shahrir tabled the motion today.

“We will support our Prime Minister and thwart any attempt to undermine his leadership,” he said.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said such briefings were held from time to time depending on issues.

“This is a Government motion and we thought it best to brief the Barisan MPs first.”

SHAHANAAZ HABIB and ZULKIFLI ABD RAHMAN
Star Online
23/06/08