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Political parties struggling to find an emotive issue to galvanise opposition against Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi have attacked the government for increasing fuel prices by 20 per cent.

More than 2,000 people chanted anti-government slogans and carried banners attacking Mr Abdullah during a demonstration on Friday. The big turnout surprised opposition leaders. At the weekend, thousands more people attended demonstrations across the country organised by opposition parties.

Opposition lawmakers announced yesterday  that they would demonstrate every Friday until Mr Abdullah either scrapped  the price rise or resigned. They also want  him to explain why huge profits from the national oil company Petronas have not been used to subsidise fuel for the poor.

Reaction to the price increases has been ugly because food, cooking gas, transport and parking charges shot up overnight, despite a government warning it will come down hard on profiteering.

Mr Abdullah raised fuel prices three times last year without public protest, but the increases were small and expected.

Last week's rise was wholly unexpected and steep, taking petrol to M$1.92 ($4) - a price that is, however, still among the lowest in Southeast Asia.

The demonstrations were the first significant anti-government protests against Mr Abdullah since he became prime minister in  2003.

'The government was arrogant in the way they handled the issue,' said Nasaruddin Isa, deputy president of the Parti Islam se-Malaysia.

'The fuel hike has caused prices of essentials to rise. It is a big burden for the poor.'

On Sunday, Mr Abdullah  tried to minimise the fallout by calling a meeting of leaders of the 14-party ruling National Front coalition.

He argued that the increases were needed so the government could cut M$4.4 billion from the M$12 billion spent on the petrol and natural gas subsidy.



Opposition fumes at fuel price rises