The Alliance of Pensioners' Organisations has written to the Prime Minister objecting to the removal of the subsidy on gas cylinders.

In the letter, signed by secretary Joseph Azzopardi, the alliance said the removal should be postponed until the economic situation in Malta and in the world improved.

The alliance said it was "dismayed" by the subsidy's sudden removal, causing the cost of LPG to skyrocket. It said this would result "in a further erosion of incomes, especially of those on or near the poverty line".

It said if the subsidy remained, it would not make a noticeable difference to the country's deficit.

"In a difficult economic moment for all, the application of neo-liberal policies, whatever the consequences, shows scant respect for social justice. This alliance is convinced the government has no desire to move away from its oft-repeated belief in social justice," the letter said.

The organisation represents the pensioners' sections of the General Workers' Union, the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin, the Malta Union of Teachers, the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses, Bank of Valletta, the police and the National Association of Pensioners.

The price of a normal 12kg cylinder of gas went up to €10.50 from €7.40, the second increase in cylinder prices this year.

The 10kg cylinders rose in price to €9 from €6.40, while a 10kg cylinder of propane increased by €2.2 to €10.

The increases followed the government's decision to remove the last tranche of subsidies, which cost €600,000 in the last four months. These were being gradually removed over the last year for the opening of the internal market to ensure fair competition.