KUALA LUMPUR, March 5 (Bernama) -- Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties are mobilising all their networks to explain to party members and the general public the government's rationale in raising the fuel prices.

The MCA would utilise fully all the party networks at all levels to convey correct facts and information on the government's decision to raise the fuel price by 30 sen per litre.

"Using the party's information bureau, we will distribute the facts to all members to ensure that all elected representatives, divisional and branch leaders have a clearer picture on the matter.

"We will also cooperate with the other BN component parties to work as a team. This is a crucial period for all BN component parties to work hard together so that the people understand the actual situation and change their lifestyle," MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting said in a statement here.

Meanwhile, MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu had instructed the party's information bureaus at the national, state, division and branch levels to explain to party members and the Indian community on the matter.

His directive came just hours after he won the MIC presidency uncontested Sunday.

"I don't want to waste any time. We will mobilise our machinery to explain to our members on the situation. I will go to the ground to explain the situation myself," Samy Vellu, who is also Works Minister, told reporters at the MIC headquarters.

Earlier, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, when briefing Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders on current issues at a special meeting here today, said BN component parties will be mobilised to provide extensive information to the people on the rationale for the government to raise fuel prices.

Abdullah said BN component parties through their consumer bureaus must give clear explanation apart from monitoring indiscriminate price hikes by traders following the government's decision to increase the price of petrol and petroleum products by 30 sen effective Feb 28.

Samy Vellu, who attended the briefing at the Putra World Trade Centre before proceeding to the MIC headquarters for the presidential nomination, said the MIC would also include information on the rationale for the fuel price increase through its publications and websites.

"I have directed MIC secretary-general (Datuk S. Sothinathan) to immediately inform all the heads of the information bureaus at all levels to explain to the members.

"But first, the heads of the information bureaus must have the facts with them and the MIC headquarters will be providing them the information," he said.

Samy Vellu said the MIC fully backed the prime minister on his views, saying the people must share the government's burden in good and bad times.

He said the subsidies saved by the government could be used for development projects, especially to further improve the public transportation sector.

Gerakan deputy president Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon said most Malaysians were very reasonable and would accept that the government subsidy on fuel came from tax payers' money.

"I think most Malaysians will be rational and look at the long-term approach rather than the short-term burden," he said.

Chairman of the BN Backbenchers Club Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad said oil and gas must be seen as valuable resources, and if they were priced wrongly there would be a tendency for the people to waste them.

"We will have no problem explaining this to the people and most BN Members of Parliament are quite capable of doing this," he added.

Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Mohamed Ali Rustam said he was confident the public would understand the reasons for the fuel price increase if they were clearly stated.

"I am convinced we can make changes. We know where to save and reduce expenditure," he said.

People's Progressive Party president Datuk M Kayveas said there would not be any problem if the people understood that the hike in fuel prices could not be avoided because of the rise in the world oil price.

"I believe the general public is trying to and will understand why the fuel price was raised and eventually will accept the reality behind the increase," he added.