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Social media users criticise 500-fils hike to gas cylinder price

By Suzanna Goussous - Dec 01,2015 - Last updated at Dec 01,2015

AMMAN — Social media users on Tuesday criticised the government’s decision to raise the price of gas cylinders, especially with “cold weather approaching”, arguing that consumers “cannot afford” the hike.

The government raised the price of gas cylinders, used in winter for heating purposes, by 500 fils (7.1 per cent) for December to JD7.50, from JD7 in November.

Mohammad Abu Rashed wrote on Facebook that “if the prices had remained as they were, it would have been more convenient.”

Bob Owidat criticised the timing of the hike.

“… Just because gas cylinders are now necessary for each house, the government raises their prices,” he charged.

“And we wonder why the crime rates increased in Jordan, this country is only for the rich and for people who hold senior positions,” Heba Daajah wrote on Facebook.

“They lowered the prices of fuel, we don’t even own cars… gas cylinders are more important to us,” Sama Hamarneh said. 

Under the same decision, the government lowered the price of petrol, with one litre of unleaded 90-octane gasoline dropping by some 3.6 per cent, from JD0.555 to JD0.535, while the cost of a litre of unleaded 95-octane gasoline dropped by around 2.7 per cent, from JD0.72 to JD0.7.

Others claimed that many news outlets highlighted the census to “cover up” the new decision.

“The decision doesn’t make sense… attention was drawn to the census so that we don’t make a big deal out of it,” Omar Haddad commented on Facebook.

Twitter user Ahmed Alzboon (@AHMEDALZBOON) charged that “[Prime Minister Abdullah] Ensour gave people a day off and distracted them with the census, then gave them half-a-dinar increase to the price of gas cylinders.”

 

Other Twitter users jokingly referred to gas as a dairy product rather than an oil derivative to explain that its price is not affected by the drop in oil prices.

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