Employees in Malaysia urged to cycle to work, save fuel

Shahidan Kassim, chief minister of northern Perlis state, said Friday it might seem odd to see civil servants, especially senior department staff, pedaling their way to the office — but they would become accustomed to it if it becomes a daily routine.

“I made a similar suggestion during the (Asian economic crisis) in 1997, and I’m suggesting it again to save fuel,” Shahidan was quoted as saying by the national news agency, Bernama.

Shahidan said cycling to work has long been common in Holland, even among political leaders. However, his remarks indicated there were no plans to make the proposal mandatory.

Malaysia’s government on Tuesday increased retail prices of gasoline, diesel and liquefied petroleum gas by as much as 23 percent, but pledged to not raise them further this year.

The increase came after six months of unchanged petroleum prices in Malaysia — thanks to government fuel subsidies — despite soaring prices of crude oil globally.

Shahidan criticized people whom he said were pasting posters on trees to denounce the hike, saying such actions were misleading and unconstructive.

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