President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono assured the people in a speech on March 31 there would be no rise in fuel prices for the time being. On March 30, parliament backed down on its promise to raise prices in line with rising world oil prices in the wake of sustained protests from workers and low-income families. A budget amendment allocated an extra 225.4 trillion rupiah (US$24.6 billion) for energy subsidies. Yudhoyono added that since reformation era in 1998 fuel prices have been adjusted seven times, and “no president and government in this country ever raised fuel prices without any reasons and thoughtful considerations.”