JAKARTA: Indonesia’s outgoing president is in talks with his successor to increase heavily subsidised fuel prices before the new leader takes power, two sources close to the matter told Reuters.

Subsidies are seen by many as the most urgent issue facing Southeast Asia’s biggest economy.

Mindful of past mass protests, the current government has been slow to cut subsidies, though a 33 per cent average fuel price hike last year triggered only limited protests and its inflationary impact lasted little more than 2-3 months.

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2014