The government set the figure on the upper limit of expectations late Wednesday despite widespread protests against the move ahead of elections next year.
The hike is designed to limit the impact of record world oil prices, which are blowing out the government's multi-billion-dollar fuel subsidy scheme and sucking state money out of social programmes.
"The figure is relatively final, it will be 28.7 percent," Finance Minister Sri Mulyani was quoted as saying on the state-run Antara news agency.
It was the first time a senior minister has put a figure on the price hikes, which have sparked almost daily protests since the government announced its intention to slash fuel subsidies earlier this month.
She did not say when the new price regime would be implemented, only that it would not be introduced until the government had finalised a package of measures designed to offset the impact on the poor.
A 28.7-percent rise would see the cost of premium gasoline in
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono says the move is essential to rein in the budget deficit and free up funds for spending on social programmes and the country's crumbling infrastructure….CNA
Friday, May 23, 2008
FUEL HIKE – INDONESIA BRACES FOR PROTESTS
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