The protracted issue of fuel subsidies places the government in an awkward position. The attempt at robbing Peter to pay Paul (by raising the price of fuel for industry in April) has produced an adverse impact: diesel has become scarce in the market.

And so the government has returned to its old policy: raising all fuel prices. It's explained away by saying the money spent on subsidies (reportedly Rp1.2 trillion) will go to, among other areas, ed