House urged to hold "extraordinary" meeting to review fuel price increase

A number of factions at the House of Representatives have called for an "extraordinary" plenary session to review the government's recent decision to increase the prices by more than 80 percent, Bisnis Indonesia reported on Monday.

The factions that had called for the extra ordinary plenary sessions included PAN, PDS and PDIP factions. The factions said that the extra plenary session is the only alternative available at present because the House members are now in a recess.

The government raised the fuel prices upon the approval of the House members. But some factions in the House said that the price increase made by the government was far higher than the 30 percent hike they had approved.

The increase in the fuel prices by more than 80 percent has won nationwide protests. The increase in the fuel prices has not only caused increase in the transportation tariffs but also caused increases in the prices of the people's basic needs. (*)