BUTTERWORTH: The government will look into all avenues to lessen the financial burden on the people following the price increase of petrol and other goods.

Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop said the government was getting feedback from the grassroots after the price hike and was looking at ways to reduce their financial woes.

Nor Mohamed, who is also the Tasek Gelugor member of parliament, said this after attending Isyak prayers and a gathering at the Permatang Buluh mosque near here last night.

He said the government would continue to help the lower-income group lead a decent life.

"It is also important for the government to disseminate the reasons for the price hike and the current global economic situation to the people."
Earlier, Nor Mohamed arrived "in style" for the Penang Umno liaison committee meeting yesterday -- in a RapidPenang bus instead of his regular chauffeured car.

His arrival, however, was only seen by several Penang Umno leaders who were waiting in front of the Umno Tower to greet Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who was scheduled to chair the meeting.

None of the members of the media managed to snap a picture of Nor Mohamed as they had not expected him to come out of the bus.

His press secretary, Mohd Kamil Othman, said the minister had earlier run a check on the RapidPenang Sdn Bhd's RapidPay system, a facility introduced by the bus company on July 1.

"This was a regular check to see how the RapidPay system works. We passed through the area, and stopped here for the meeting."

RapidPay provides a mobile phone prepaid top-up and bill payment facility in a bus.

It was introduced by RapidPenang in 25 of its buses. The system has made RapidPenang the first bus company in Southeast Asia to introduce such a facility.

It enables bus passengers to top up their prepaid mobile phone services and pay their bills using Affin Bank, CIMB Bank, Bank Islam and EON Bank cards.

More information on the system can be obtained from RapidPenang at 04-2381313 or email at careline@rapidpg.com.my.