BUKIT MERTAJAM (Malaysia):The Government may have good news for the people soon over fuel prices.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said global oil prices were on the decline and the Federal Government may make an announcement soon.

"Hopefully, we will have good news (for the people) about the fuel price.

"Budget 2009, which will be announced on Aug 29, will also see more help for the people, especially those in the rural areas where there is still much to be done," he said during a meet-the-people session at Barisan Nasional's operation centre at Kampung Sama Gagah yesterday.

Najib said the outcome of the Permatang Pauh by-election would not change the Federal Government.

He said the contest for the parliamentary seat would not affect the current administration , which had been given mandate to govern the country in the March 8 general election.

"The by-election will determine the MP, not the Government. So it is improper (for the Opposition) to use change of government slogans," he said.

Najib also said in a democratic country, it was improper for MPs to jump from one party to another, as it was a betrayal of the people who had voted for them.

When asked to comment about PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's support for the 10% quota allocation for non-bumiputras in Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Najib said he was fishing for Chinese and Indian votes.

"He knows a majority of Malays are with Umno and PAS. So PKR has to draw as many Chinese and Indian voters as they can.

"The UiTM student demonstration is a sensitive issue but the people need to look at the bigger picture because Malaysia has a liberal education system that offers all students opportunities," he said.

Najib said the country's education policy allows the setting up of private higher learning institutions and quota-meritocracy system, while there were government scholarships and National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loans for all students.

"The issue makes the Federal Government appear like it is unjust to non-bumiputra students and paints an inaccurate image of Barisan and Umno," he said.