Thesun 2008-11-18 Page04 Abdullah Reduce Prices Of Goods

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theSun

| TUESDAY NOVEMBER 18 2008

news without borders

Abdullah: Reduce prices of goods TASHKENT: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi wants traders to reduce the prices of their goods so that consumers can enjoy the benefit of cheaper petrol and diesel in the country. The prime minister said the problem was that prices of most goods had yet to go down despite the drop in fuel prices in the country for the fifth time, with the latest starting today. “When the fuel prices went down, the prices of goods have not gone down as well. This is what I don’t like to hear,” Abdullah, who is on the second day of his four-day official visit to Uzbekistan told

Malaysian journalists. He said the traders were only interested in making a big profit, thus burdening the people. Abdullah said the government kept its word by reducing the pump prices following the downward trend of global oil prices. However, the government was always at the losing end as people would still be angry with the government when the pump prices went down because the prices of goods did not go down as well, he added. Abdullah said the people should not blame the government all the time as they, as consumers, had a

role to play too in checking rising prices of goods. “I am glad to hear that some non-governmental organisations plan to boycott some business premises for not reducing their prices,” he said. Abdullah hoped that consumer associations could enlighten the business associations on the plight of the people through discussions. Earlier, he told a joint news conference with Uzbek President Islam Karimov at the Presidential Residence, Durmen, here that Uzbekistan can use Malaysia as a springboard to export its products to the Asean market. Likewise, Malaysia could use Uzbekistan as a hub for its market in Central Asia, he said. Uzbekistan could look beyond its region to expand its market, said. Abdullah had a meeting with Karimov before leading their respective delegations in a meeting at Durmen, where he was also given an official welcome. He said the two countries could also explore untapped areas such as agriculture and agro-based industry. – Bernama

Liu talks to Malaysia Today editor and blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin outside the magistrate’s court in Petaling Jaya yesterday.

Hindraf trial postponed to March 16 KUALA LUMPUR: The sessions court here yesterday postponed to March 16-18 the trial of 23 supporters of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) who are charged with participating in an illegal assembly. Sessions judge Akhtar Tahir said owing to the fact that there was a possibility of him being transferred, the case would be heard before

another judge. The case was then mentioned before sessions judge Sekeri Mamat who fixed the new dates. Ten prosecution witnesses have testified in the case to date. The accused face three charges, including an optional charge to the main charges, in relation to an illegal assembly in the Yow Chuan Plaza area, Jalan Tun

Razak, between 8am and 9am on March 25 last year. Earlier, Akhtar discharged and acquitted student N. Rajasegar Pillay, 22, after Deputy Public Prosecutor Tan Gin Han informed the court that the prosecution wished to drop the charges against him. A warrant of arrest was also issued for four accused who failed to turn up in court.

Lim: It’s a political trial » From Front Page At the Parliament lobby, DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur) urged AttorneyGeneral Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail to drop the charge against Liu, describing it as a “political trial”. He said that if the case was so serious, it should not take more than a year for the A-G and police to act, adding that abetment carries the same penalty as the principal charge. MP for Puchong Gobind Singh Deo, the lawyer representing Liu, said it was a unique case where a person is charged with abetting others, but

these offenders are not named. “This can only reflect the fact that the charge against Liu is certainly without merit,” he said. Gobind said an application would be made to have the court decide on that matter. “We will challenge the validity of the charge when the case comes up for mention on Feb 10 and we hope to get a ruling from the court,” he said. If found guilty, Liu can be jailed for up to two years or fined not more than RM10,000. He will also lose his position as Pandamaran state assemblyman and state executive council member.