PETALING JAYA: Petrol and diesel prices have been slashed by a further 15 sen per litre from today.

The new pump price for RON97 is now RM2 per litre while RON92 will be sold at RM1.90 per litre. Diesel will be at RM1.90 per litre.

The latest price cut, the fifth since August, was announced by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak yesterday.

Najib said the reduction was made in line with falling global petroleum prices.

Yesterday’s price of a barrel of crude was about US$56.

Najib, who is also Finance Minister, urged traders to lower prices of goods and services to fully benefit the people following the fuel reduction.

“The people should also continue to use petrol and diesel sparingly despite the lower price in line with the Government’s efficient energy consumption plan,” he said.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the Government had kept its promise to reduce petrol prices.

Abdullah, who is on a working visit to Uzbekistan, said consumers should boycott outlets which refused to lower prices.

“I have been told that there is a non-governmental organisation spearheading this move. They have my support,” he told Malaysian reporters in the Uzbek capital Tashkent.

He said the people would be angry with the Government because prices of goods were still high.

“The Government had kept its promise but traders are not doing their part,” he said.

Abdullah said more NGOs should come forward and advise consumers where to shop.

“You can work together and get consumers to shun traders who pofiteer. We have to do this or else prices would not come down,” he added.

Meanwhile, petroleum dealers said they would feel the pinch with the latest fuel price reduction.

Malaysian Petroleum Dealers’ Association acting president Abdul Wahid Bidin said: “We hope this reduction will be the last. Otherwise, we won’t be able to plan ahead and doing business will be very difficult.”