Spread fuel price rumours, get fined
Posted by Bao Viet Nam on August 10, 2008
HCM CITY — Individuals and organisations who spread false news about fuel price hikes must be punished, senior officials from the Ministries of Finance and Industry and Trade said earlier this week.
These statements were made after rumours about another price hike raising gasoline from the current VND19,000 to VND26,000 per litre.
The false information drove thousands of motorists to filling stations to re-fuel for fear that prices would raise, causing chaos on Tuesday.
During a press meeting in Ha Noi on Tuesday afternoon, deputy minister of Finance Tran Xuan Ha rejected the incorrect information, saying there are no plans for raising fuel prices.
Ha said the Finance Ministry will colaborate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade to inspect filling stations to find the sources of the gossip.
“Those who spread rumours for their own benefits must receive sanctions, including business license withdrawals,” said Ha.
He said the Finance Ministry submitted a decree on sanctions against speculators to the Government at Monday’s meeting.
Another decree to include lawsuits against those spreading rumours that agitate the market will be submitted to the Government soon.
At a press briefing on Tuesday, Deputy Minister for Industry and Trade Nguyen Thanh Bien said that news about a price jump at the pump was “groundless” as oil prices are declining on the world market.
In an official dispatch sent to the HCM City People’s Committee on Tuesday evening, Deputy Minister for Industry and Trade Nguyen Cam Tu asked city authorities to conduct investigations and discipline individuals and organisations behind fake information.
The HCM City Market Management Force inspected filling stations throughout the city on Tuesday afternoon.
Le Xuan Dai, deputy head of the HCM City Market Management Board, said no filling station was reported to sell fuel at higher prices or refusing to sell to customers. —
