Projected small rise in petrol prices to add to M'sia's cost woes

Kuala Lumpur

A PROJECTED increase of between five and 10 sen in the price of petrol this Friday, though slight, could add to growing concerns over rising costs in Malaysia, coming as it does on the heels of the new consumption tax on April 1.

A backlash against spiralling prices could test the government's resolve to use a managed-float mechanism to fix pump prices instead of handing out blanket fuel subsidies.

On April 1, when the 6 per cent goods and services tax (GST) was rolled out, consumers had been spare…