Jakarta

INDONESIAN President Joko Widodo on Monday raised fuel prices to free up funds for ports and programmes for the poor, fulfilling an election pledge to curtail a decades-old subsidy that has constrained government finances.

The price of subsidised petrol will increase to 8,500 rupiah (S$0.90) a litre from 6,500 rupiah effective from Tuesday, Mr Joko, who is also popularly known as Jokowi, told reporters in Jakarta on Monday. Diesel will rise to 7,500 rupiah a litre from 5,500 rupiah, he said.