Posted on by Kit

PM should seek Parliament approval on June 23 for hefty oil price increases

Ipoh’s protest :
Lim Kit Siang leading Perak's MPs and State Assemblymen and Women at Ipoh's Protest Protestor
KL’s protest :
 

Some hundred people, including DAP MP for Ipoh Barat, M. Kulasegaran, Perak State Assembly Speaker Sivakumar, Perak DAP State Excos Su Keong Siong, A. Sivanesan and Chen Fook Chye and DAP Perak Assembly members Leong Mee Meng (Jalong), Lim Pek Har (Menglembu), Ong Boon Piow (Tebing Tinggi) and Siva Subramanian (Buntong), together with representatives from trade unions and NGOs, gathered outside the Perak Federal Building this morning to fire the first salvo of protest on behalf of Malaysians at the hefty and unconscionable increase of oil prices yesterday.

The half-hour protest went off smoothly, with Kula, Su, Sivanesan, Chen and myself speaking briefly on the protest.

In Kuala Lumpur, a similar protest, attended by five DAP Federal Territory MPs (Dr. Tan Seng Giaw, Fong Kui Lun, Tan Kok Wai, Teresa Kok, Lim Lip Eng), Manogaran (MP – Teluk Intan) and Selangor DAP State Assemblywoman Jenice Lee Ying Ha (Teratai), was held at the Pudu Market, Jalan Pasar.

Excerpts of my remarks at the Ipoh Protest this morning:

The sudden hefty oil price increases – 40.6 per cent and 63.3 per cent increase in pump petrol price and diesel price respectively – creating a seven-hour nation-wide chaos is an outrage as it is most unconscionable, unjustifiable and deplorable reflecting poorly on good governance in Malaysia especially after ministerial undertaking that there would be no changes until August.

The introduction of annual cash rebate of RM625 to those who own cars of 2,000 cc and below, and pick-up trucks and jeeps of 2,500 cc and below, and cash rebate of RM150 a year for owners of motor-cycles of 250 cc and below, as well as road tax discounts, will not be able to fully cushion the low and middle-income Malaysians from the inflationary spiral which would be unleashed by the greatest hike in oil prices in the nation’s history.

Equally of concern will be the deterioration of the public safety index, with the expected worsening of the crime situation which has already become an endemic problem causing Malaysians, tourists and investors to fear for their personal safety, their loved ones and the safety of property as well!

The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said yesterday:

“We cannot keep subsidising at the current rate. We must reduce wastage. If we can change our lifestyles, we will not suffer a terrible situation.”

However, the present government has no credibility in setting an example of “change of lifestyles” in eradicating the parasitic subsidy mentality as it has shown no political will to eliminate the rampant waste, extravagance, abuse of public funds, lack of accountability and corruption rife in the public sector, as illustrated by Malaysia’s worsening reputation on corruption whether nationally or internationally, the RM4.6 billion Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) bailout scandal, the lack of accountability for the Petronas billions, etc.

In the previous oil price increases in February 2006, the government promised radical improvements in the public transport system – but nothing has come out of it.

The Prime Minister and all the Cabinet Ministers owe Malaysians a full and acceptable explanation why they could not fully involve the Malaysian public in the restructuring of the fuel pricing system which is fair and equitable to the low and middle-income Malaysians and done in a competent , professional and accountable manner as to avoid the seven-hour nation-wide chaos yesterday.

Parliament, which ended its meeting last week and would meet again on 23rd June, should have been the forum to decide on the fuel pricing system which is fair, equitable and efficient.

Why was Parliament by-passed altogether by the Cabinet?

The first item of business of the forthcoming parliamentary meeting should be a motion to seek approval of Parliament for the hefty and unconscionable oil price increases yesterday. This motion should be moved by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi himself.

225 Replies to “PM should seek Parliament approval on June 23 for hefty oil price increases”

  1. My god, how come the price hike was not informed or approved by the cabinet? Can they do this? Even a public listed company director cannot bypass the procedures and regulations. Gee….our PM really take this like his playground…our money, our right

  3. Petrol price had gone up. Everyone knows it. So many desperate fellows actually drove their cars bumper to bumper queuing in lines just to get their tanks filled last night hoping to save some money before the super price hike. I am no MBA or economist, so I am in no position to fully understand the fuel subsidy thing and their effect on the economy and blah blah blah. But as a normal citizen who has an almost properly functioning brain, I can tell you that the currently planned method of cash rebate is a piece of shit that could only come from someone with shits in their heads.

    Reasoning :
    1) How many cars are over 2000cc?? Few or may be very few only. Meaning that many (rich or poor) will still benefit from the cash rebate irrespective of their gas using habit. This is not what we want. We want the poor to receive more.

    2) Let say I am a businessman who runs a car rental service and I own 50 cars for rental. I rent the car to customers and customers fill and pay for the petrol themselves, so essentially I will receive $31,250.00 ($625.00 x 50) annual cash rebate for doing nothing, extra profit from the stupid policy maker and government.

    3) Let say I am a filthy rich man and I own 5 luxury cars but all are below 2000cc, or may be I am just a rich man who likes to own nice cars, then I will be entitled $3,125.00 ($625.00 x 5) annual cash rebate despite being filthy rich with overspending lifestyle while my fellow poor neighbor who owns a Honda 70cc kap-cai only receive $150 annual cash rebate despite being poor and living a thrifty lifestyle!!! VERY STUPID GOVERNMENT!!!

    4) Let say I am a poor man who don’t own any cars/motorbike and I rely on public transportation to go to/from work, then I will not get anything sumore I am likely to pay more for transportation fares due to the diesel hike, despite me being very poor not even capable of owning a motorbike, being nice for using public transportation thus relieving road congestion, being environmental friendly by not burning fossil fuels, but in return I get punished!!!! DAMN STUPID GOVERNMENT!!!!!

    5) And lastly can the uncle-uncle and auntie-auntie at the POS offices handle the sudden surge in demand for counter services as a result of the cash rebate?? Judging from the services and experiences I had with those uncles and aunties, I don’t think so!

    Anyway, I am not all critics and no help. My suggestion is why not implement the rebate in the form of income tax relief/rebate base on income level?

  4. YB,
    On the 23rd of June, could you pls propose a vote of no confidence on tht dumb dumb liar. Real idiot. I am currently studying in Australia, and my lecturer came up to me this morning and asked me what is wrong with my PM. I told him, tht PM wants to be remembered for something before the PR kicks him out and becomes the new goverment. Abdullah, pls start ur own blog so we can all personally tell you how dumb you are, and lets see the other idiot Ka Chuan support you.

  5. We must keep pressuring the corrupt BN-UMNO government!! If not because of their corrupt practice and poor governance, the people would have enjoyed a lower fuel price with efficient public transport system!

    BN-UMNO must be consigned to rubbish bin as soon as possible where it rightfully belongs!

  8. i strongly support that our dear YB to arise this matter in the Parliment.To protest.This is a Global issue,I think this is only BN word of mouth.Furthermore,I also asked All Wakil rakyat if can,vote the PM to step down as Prime minister,as he do not realise how is the economy in malaysia,i think.

  10. Great job! Let’s organize more protests especially in Penang! BN really suxx.. They don think about the citizens but only themselves. That’s a lousy gov ever. Don’t they know that their responsibility is should try to help us instead of undego inflation in our country but not burden us with such decision made (fuel hike)?

    We’re not stupid anymore PAKLAH.. That’s no way YOU urged the malaysian not to protest at the street. YOU had fool the nation few times already. People, let’s think what our PM had brought to Malaysia since 2004? I think ‘fuel hike’ is one of his ‘glorious’ record, isn’t it?

    Petronas should not gain all the profit from the crude oil. They should make things clear that this natural resource is for all Malaysian but not only for BN and Petronas.

    Let’s wake up all malaysian! We should protest what the government done to us!

  11. Pingback: Petrol price hike, what others are saying | Malaysia Social Politics | YeinJee

  12. YB, we are suffering and please help to pressure BN until they bring the price down… We have done our part by casting our vote to PR and now is the time for PR to do something to rakyat..

    I hope PR can take control of the federal in sept and bring the price down immediately…. I am okay to let oil price flowing freely provided we must make good use of the petronas money and also reduce the vehicle tax and etc….

    We are just in the middle of suiting ourself in facing the hiking of groceries price and in a sudden that BODOHWI pour salt in our wound…

    I hate BN!

  13. It seems that the fuel price hike is decided by UMNO alone. Why other BN component parties are keeping quite?

    MCA, MIC, Gerakan, PPP, PBB, PRS, SUPP, SPDP….where are your balls?

    Killer tsunami awaiting you all!

  14. True, petrol price increase is a world wide “phenomenon”. But why some non-oil producing countries can cope with it so well and yet Malaysia, a so called oil-exporting country, is getting into such a mess. The answer is simple: The government in the past has been relying too heavily on oil revenues for the country’s development and sustenance. BN must be held responsible for years of economic mismanagement.

  15. Malaysian are rich and stupid, tats why VW dumped their car selling so much higher compare to Benz and BMW.

    With this in mind, our hero PM sure don’t give a hack of how the rest of the cabinet or member of parliament think such ridiculous decision, as M’sian are rich and stupid.

    The coffer is already empty, billionth of funds transferred thanks to Taik, the next phase will be cleaning whatever still remaining asking the ppl. to eat themselves.

  16. The gov giving rebate of RM625 a year? For those who believe that there will be RM625 waiting for you in your post box, please kick yourself for believing it.

    Dont need to talk about this RM625 figure which is from divine inspiration. Even a longer established office to handle tax rebates can delay your rebates for many years and lose your filing or such bull crap. So what makes you think that this RM625 which has yet to have people taking care of distribution will reach you?

    I would suggest that every single person in the country just stop showing up for work for a week. There is no point in doing street protests or holding up banners or such things. They will just call up the police to spray you with chemical laced water cannons and gas you. Besides, how many people can partake in the protests? Fuel price go up so do you think that many people will actually drive out to the gathering spots? Expensive you know? I have a solution for a much better way to protest.

    Just stay in the comforts of your home and not work for a week. Lets see how the gov will react to that. The whole national economy will spiral down and it will be a sign that the people are pissed off.

  17. To the Sabahan Ministers and all sabahan people, this is what you get now . Before real money comes to you all, the government already slash your wrist . People all now suffer. They “Promise” you something, but before you can get the real sweeteners, the government take a huge bite on you. Wake up Sabahan !!! Don just listen only. Feel the pinch now !!!

  18. Our PM is a unresposible person and liar. Most of the time he don’t mean what he said. He is just a puppet and don’t care at all about the hardship of the rakyat.

    I am beginning to get worried about my business. I wonder how long can i last with all these escalating prices.

  19. to all PR supporter lets all of us conducts formation to protest yesterday petrol hike!!! lets push the evil minds governance once and for all.

    to all fellow pr supporter we have to stay on together to push the demonised government to secured our future and our children future. LET PROTEST>>>>>>SAY XXXX to ( Barang Naik )

  20. ahkok1982 Says:
    Just stay in the comforts of your home and not work for a week. Lets see how the gov will react to that.
    ————————————–
    The gov will not react, your boss will react ;-)
    A better solution is to keep educating the young and naive Malaysians to vote BN-UMNO out totally come GE13. If the voters have wisdom, we won’t have such incompetent and corrupt government!

  22. smart 4 tham to announce right after parliment session, PR MPs we need no confidence vote in next parliment, bring them DOWN

    until then the rakyat are willing to bath for free from fru water cannon, shed tears by fru gases, bruise and beaten by fru baton

    the rakyat is NOT afraid

  23. Thanks to the great mullah, those Malaysians now surviving on 3 meals on day will have to make do with two– breakfast and dinner. This is because the cost of food will go up by 40% in tandem with the fuel price hike. Any chance the US ships turned away by Myanmar will unload their food aid in Malaysia?

  25. If MCA, MIC, & GERAKAN leaders are sincere in their very vocal support for their community and members welfare since their dismal performance at the last election, then they should ACT and WALK OUT from the BN NOW!
    FORCE a RE-ELECTION and change the government.

  26. …and if MCA, MIC, & GERAKAN leaders have the balls to walk out, the other component parties like PBS, SAPP, UPKO, PBRS, & LDP…and quite possibly some from Sarawak side and even a few from UMNO camp (who doesn’t want to be left out of the picture)..WILL follow suit.
    In a forced re-election NOW, GUESS WHO WILL WIN THE ELCTION???

  27. To all those who plead that fuel price hikes is a global phenomenon and an inevitable event, kindly consider this:

    The formula for the existence of UMNO is this circular symbiotic arrangement – less subsidies means more money for contracts means more money for cronies and relatives means more leakage means more support for the person who dishes out the contracts means the UMNO President cannot fall.

    The price hikes may be inevitable but the underlying reason is that it is fundamental to Badawi’s political survival. Hence the total disregard for public welfare.

    I can accept a price hike that is due to events beyond our control, but when the underlying reason is that of political survival of a corrupt regime, then I will go on protesting against this injustice.

  29. Again, I’m saying that street protest is not the solution.

    Surely our MPs can think of better rational safer realistic solutions to counter this.

    Stop all this protesting street deom crap or some of the people involved might get hurt.

  31. Pingback: Kecek-kecek Tok Mudin 3.0 : Minyak oh minyak! (2)

  32. Tahniah buat seluruh pucuk-pucuk kayu BN, pak2 menteri, YB2 dan seluruh jentera, pendokong, juak2 dan puak2 mahupun penyokong Barisan Nasional a.k.a Be End atas kenaikan minyak ini. Mujurlah tak naik 98 sen… mudahan rakyat malaysia bersyukur atas hadiah besar lagi hebat ini….. Inilah dia yang mereka kata TRADISI MEMBELA RAKYAT…rekyat merempat! thanks them for this increment!!??! increasement!??

  35. Yes. Ask alot of questions at the coming Parliament sitting. Better still have a “mass dialog” at Parliament House where the public can attend in numbers.

    And I don’t think your street protests today was well planned or thought out. And the presence of your senior members.

    I certainly love to see the headlines tomorrow “State Assembly Speaker and Senior State Exco members beaten up and detained”, or something like that. Boy, that would be fun.

    Get the Pakatan State Assemblies to pass motions to condemn the price hikes. Can you do that?

  37. harga minyak mesti mau niak!!! tapi.. gov jugak mau turunkan tax harga.. Tax kereta di Malaysia adalah tax yang termahal di region ini.. Even a very old car but with higher than 2000cc have a pay a very high tax.. How come..!!! stupid UMNO..!!! Tax yang kena pada kita dah berapa kali ganda boleh cover subsidise utk petrol.. again.. STUPID UMNO…!!!! BUAYA..!!!

  38. IS AAB is punishing the RAKYAT for not electing BN back to power with a 2/3 majority?

    AAB dare not go to seek Parliament approval with such high 40.6% up of petrol increase and will be hammered by both sides. Better announce it early and let the RAKYAT jumps. Surely we are all jumping with anger as it will create more ‘JUMPS’ of ALL GOODS and SERVICES in the coming days and weeks and months.

    Cost of living is going up up and up. Does BN cares? Definately not, I suppose they think they can do anything they want.

    With all the ‘savings’ from subsidies, why do they have to have such high increases and now all PR Politicians must come in ‘arms’ to question and bring the BN down to earth.

    Go go go, PAKATAN RAKYAT. Bring BN down now !!!!!

    DL5

  39. May i know where is the profit of Petronas go?? Price increase to RM2.70 per litre so that Petronas can grow its profit (Double-digit growth). People living expense is also double digit increase.

    As the writing up that government try not to subsidies the fuel so that it can put the money somewhere else to grow the country. May i ask, can our country stop to grow for these 2 years if every citizen is suffering from high living cost. Petronas money should be used to cushion our fuel cost in the country.

    What is our government is trying to do???

  40. I suggest PM calls for a snap election. Let the people decide if the price hike is acceptable.
    The time is just right. Let’s see if he himself can win in Kepala Batas. Will see how many BN candidates will lose their deposits.

  41. t is haphazard decision hastily decided by a low calibre Badawi cabinet.

    On TV3 Badawi prided that the cabinet took 4 long hours to deliberate on the issue! Only 4 hours of deliberation for such an important issue? An important decision of this nature which has a rippling effect on the whole nation should be studied by a competent team of economist, academicians and thinkers for months – not by shallow thinking cabinet ministers in 4 hours!

    1.A large number of those two cannot afford motorcycles and small cars take buses to go to work. When petrol price increases, it is a foregone conclusion that the bus owners will increase the fares. Instead of helping the poor, this category of people will be hit by a double whammy – increased bus fares and increase in prices of food, goods and services and everything else!

    2.A new small car costs much more than a second hand car. For example, a small new 850cc Kancil cost $27,000 can carry about 4 persons albeit with some difficulty but a second hand 2500cc Volvo 850 costs about $15,000 could carry goods and 5-6 people easily without problem. In fact, we do find a lot of poor kampong folks driving big, old but cheap continental cars/vans/jeeps because it is more suitable for carrying farm produce as well for transporting their large families. Again they will be hit by a double whammy – increase in price of petrol and everything else!

    3.In a poor family of 10 people, only one can afford a small car which is used to make 2 trips to transport everybody. Only one will receive a small petrol payment (for one trip) and the other 9 members will have to bear the increased prices of petrol (for 2nd trip), food and everything else.

    4.The huge increase in price of petrol will cause a chain reaction on the increase in prices of other goods and services. Whatever small amounts received by the motorcyclist and small car owners will be largely negated by the more than disproportionate increase in prices of goods and services.

    5.Which stupid idiot equates rich or poor with the cc of the vehicles? An average office clerk may own a second hand 1300cc proton Iswara costing $7,000 (rebate = $625) while the Robert Kuok’s children can own a fleet of 10 new cars of BMW, Audi and Volvo all less than 2000cc costing $2 millions and get a total rebate of $625 x 10 = $6,250!

    6.In Malaysia, the heavier burden is caused by cost of travelling to work. The cost of travelling will have to include:

    1. toll charges,
    2. amortisation of the vehicle’s cost over the economic useful life of the vehicle, or, for those who have obtained loan financing, the monthly loan repayments,
    3. the annual vehicle maintenance cost (tyres, brake pads, engine oil, spark plugs, etc)
    4. road tax,
    5. Parking; and
    6. petrol

    If you analyse above carefully a huge chunk of the expenses goes to car amortisation cost and toll charges. Everyone who has travelled overseas knows for a fact that Malaysia has one of the highest numbers of tolls in the country and very high excise duties on cars.

    Take a real life example of a typical average worker in Malaysia earning a take home pay after deducting EPF of RM 2,000 a month. He drives a small 850cc Kancil (cost RM27,000) and travels to and from work each day from his home in Cheras averaging about 40 km. His typical monthly travelling cost is:

    Amortisation of car for 10 years ($27,000/10/12)………….$225
    Petrol (based on current price)……………………………………$200
    Maintenance of car…………………………………………… ….……..$100
    Road Tax ($50/ 12)…………………………………………… ……………….$4
    Parking ……………………………………………… ………….………………$90
    Total Travelling Cost per Month……………………………………$619
    Percentage of Travelling Cost to Take-Home Pay…………31%

    It simply does not make sense that the use of vehicle for travelling to work to earn revenue for the country would be a whopping 31% of his take home pay for a country that is a net exporter of oil. That does not even include his payment for the increased price of petrol and monthly expenditure for food, housing loan, medical expenses, children schooling expenses, etc, which are certain to increase if the prices of petrol increase.

    It makes stupid sense to make a small amount of cash repayments to a small portion of the citizens but the cost of tolls, utilities, food, goods and services keep on escalating. I don’t know whether they are aware that not all registered owners are the actual users of the vehicle and how the repayments could go to the actual persons intended.

    This way of abrupt petrol price increase would be disastrous to the nation and once the negative chain reactions (stock market slow down, run away inflation, economic slowdown, corporate under-budgets, etc) happen, the nation might not recover from it for a long time.

  42. The word [b]“subsidy”[/b] has been brandished by the BN government as if it has so generously helped the rakyat and in doing so incurred losses. This simple example will help to clarify the situation:

    [b]Example:[/b]
    Ahmad is a fisherman. He sells a fish to you at $10 which is below the market value of $15. Let’s assume that he caught the fish from the abundance of the sea at little or no cost. Ahmad claims that since the market value of the fish is $15 and he sold you the fish for $10, he had subsidised you $5 and therefore made a loss of $5.

    [b]Question :[/b] Did Ahmad actually make a profit of $10 or loss of $5 which he claimed is the subsidy?

    [b]Answer:[/b]
    Ahmad makes a profit of $10 which is the difference of the selling price ($10) minus the cost price ($0 since the fish was caught from the abundance of the sea). There is no subsidy as claimed by Ahmad.

    Had Ahmad not caught the fish himself but purchased it from another person at the market price ($15), then he is right in claiming that he had made a loss of $5 (Selling price $10 –cost $15) which is the amount of the subsidy.

    The BN government claims that it is a subsidy because the oil produced by Petronas is kept separated and treated as somebody else’s property (you know who). By right, the oil belongs to all citizens of the country and the government is a trustee for the citizens. So as in the above simple example, the BN government cannot claim that it has subsidised the citizens – not if Malaysia is an oil producing country!

  43. UBAHLAH GAYA HIDUP PAK LAH!

    Jadikanlah diapa rakyat jelata bawah,
    barulah mereka faham apa itu susah.

    Mainkan politik macam main masak,
    pemimpin jahat tu yang suka desak.

    Dia akan rasmikan najis itu makanan,
    hidup/mati dengan dia tak berkenaan.

  44. Another sad day for Malaysians….

    Expecting an increase but surely not this much….

    There is surely a conspiracy on this. The BN knows that their days are numbered and now till the next GE will do everything and anything in anyway for whatsoever reason to drain out Malaysian coffers, its naturals resources…

    And to say that cross over to PR is not ethical. Since when did BN practice ethics or transparency….

    I expect more bail-out, more mega project, more close one eyes, more BN top bossess (to resign and then move out of the counries after making tonnes of money) before PRU13.

  45. On the other hand, Godfather, I thought this could possibly be the last nail.

    The impact is tremendous. Firstly such jump must be given with ample warning. His announcement was uncharacteristically at 6 pm. That caused massive jams.

    Secondly the ripple effect, lets say it’s a tsunami effect, would render many businesses scrambling for additional finance. Okay, you and I can calculate the cost increase, but what about the street vendors who are just scrapping by? They could only calculate their cost after a week or so, and by then, many would suffer losses.

    Thirdly as a nation, we are not calculating on just the savings obtained. “Savings” is elusive and the PM knows it. But the losses would be tangible. Immediately transportation cost spiral. Average families with 2 cars need another RM250 to RM300 in fuel budget.

    Fourthly, the greatest impact would be on the lower income group. 40% and 63% petrol and diesel costs translate into some 2% to 2% increase in our expenditure, but for lower group, it could be as high as 6% to 10%. Affected are the grass cutters, motorboat man (Sabah/Sarawak), and farmers; they are the main losers.

    I have no answer to this increase, but whatever increase needed, PM Abdullah could have done it in stages.

  47. Keep writing to the “sleeping PM”.

    http://www.warkahuntukpm.com.my

    I am very disappointed with the huge and sudden increase of pump petrol prices. The govt has yet to explain Petronas accounts and make it public before burdening the citizens. How could an oil-producing country’s govt justify forcing its citizens to pay market prices for the country’s natural resources that belongs to its citizens? It really boggles the mind to accept the PM’s explanation.
    The govt keeps telling us to change our lifestyle, take local vacations, send on neccessities not luxuries, etc… These slew of wise advices from the mouths of the well-off creme-de-la-creme of govt and society does not go down well with the masses. We are already struggling to put basic food on the table, rice and vegetable, don’t even mentioned meat or fish. Price of chicken is not controlled and cost of rice has escalated tremendously. I dread to think what will happen on Monday when children have to board school buses. Will there also be another increase of school bus fares? I’m already paying RM80x2=$160.A 40% increase is $224! My current petrol usage is $400/mth. A 40% increase is $560! My monthly house instalment is $1100. With a salary of $3500, I’m hardly keeping afloat. What more other families who are less fortunate.
    I agree that the people through their respective MPs ought to table a motion to veto the Cabinet’s decision, forcing them to rescind their unilateral action without going through Parliament.

  49. Back in 2004, AAB ask the people to “work with him and not work for him”.
    That was back then…
    Now…he wants the rakyat, to be his slaves???
    I dont think so Mr. PM!
    And what has the de facto Leader of Keadilan got to say in this? He promised a petrol price reduction? Are we heading in the right direction?
    My god…I’m shocked and dunno what to believe now!

  51. Bro Kit,

    UMNO does not give a damn about Parliment! The Cabinet took 4 hours to decide on this? Goes to show how serious they were! 4 hours to decide on a 40% rise?
    Pak Lah askes us to change our lifestyles & not be so wasteful?! Maybe when the BN changes & stops being corrupted then tell the Rakyat to change!
    Well, it’s time to change alright! Change the bloody BN (read UMNO) Government!

  52. As the price hike is not a change of constitution of Malaysia, the PM and his cabinet do not have to put it through the parliament.

    The 625 compensation is certainly not enough to cover the increase in cost of petrol for most of the working community. Hope YB can ask for that figure to increase.

    We are in for a rough ride.

  54. dEAR WALAO..the cabinet has approved and had made that decision…but what YB Lim trying to say is PM should brings this matter to be passed by parliament….it seems that you just like to commenting by not reading the writings..huh…

  55. This is not bad governance, this is “Samseng” governance. I think everyone expects petrol price will go up but NOT up by a hefty 40% for a oil producing nation!!!!!!!! Yesterday the Indian government has also raised their petrol price but by only 10%!!! Can’t Malaysia learn to do it gradually, take sufficient time to prepare hearts & minds & let incomes catch up during the period? Are they trying to instill national unrest????

    Just imagine the rippling impact on prices of other items, now we have to expect an escalating inflation such as the nation has never seen before coming to Malaysia.

    Lets hope it won’t go out of hand, OR can it just be that the BN has purposely planned this to create national chaos so that they can stay in power, divert attention from Mongolian murder, Lingam saga etc etc?

  56. I am so aggitated with some Malaysians who’d like to make non-sense remarks..For me its enough showing our dissapproval on the matter with well-manner writing. Making such non-sense allegations is nothing less we could do to improve our standard living. YB Lim, help us with your briliant ideas.

  57. Some sort of silent and demonstration protest need to be organize here…

    My wife and me were part of the 98 demo and still today, we were very proud of it. It was not just an issue for one man – DSAI suffering only and it shows today since that fateful day that more and more un-imaginable event/ mismanagement/ corruptions etc happenned

    I am willing to demo again (but off course leaving my wife taking care of my children). To show our dis-satisfation…and again palying hide and seek with the FRU.

    Which is why I maintained my opinion and position…To all BN MP’s please cross over if you still want to have your dignity in the eyes of Rakyat. Please save Malaysia while we can and do not wait until another 5 or 10 years

  59. justice_fighter Says:
    The gov will not react, your boss will react ;-)
    A better solution is to keep educating the young and naive Malaysians to vote BN-UMNO out totally come GE13. If the voters have wisdom, we won’t have such incompetent and corrupt government!
    ==============================================

    Of course education is necessary but it takes time and time is very obviously not on our side. Of course, boss will react but then what will the reaction be? Fire everyone? Close shop? What do you think taxes from these business go to? The gov will feel the pain…

    How do you think Ghandi protested? Hunger strike.
    Try staying at home for a week, not spending much on food, entertainment or anything else. Heck, dont even turn on any electrical appliance.
    If enough people do this, what do you think will happen?

  60. Does Abdullah care a damn about what parliament says? He thinks he has the absolute power because he is PM, Minister of Finance and Home Minister! These gave him the absolute power to do what he likes but it looks like this may be his last act!

  61. YB Lim,
    Street protests alone would not bring in the necessary changes. Such protests would be capitalized by the Umnoputras and innocent but concerned citizens might even get mauled by the police and the govt. thugs in blue.

    For protests and demonstrations to be effective, the participants need to be better informed. The PKR component parties especially the DAP should explain very clearly what the 41% petrol, 63% diesel and the 20% electricity hikes would cost the ordinary citizen.

    Since the MSM cannot be trusted to give the true picture, I suggest that PKR distribute leaflets in English, Malay, Chinese, Tamil and other languages of Sabah and Sarawak highlighting the issue in terms of escalation of prices of consumer goods, services and other utilities.
    What must also be made apparent is the spiralling effect of this exorbitant hike on the lifestyles of the average citizen.

    The elites in the Umnoputra hierachy will not feel the pinch at all and they can ask the citizens to CHANGE their lifestyles but it is these clowns that need to CHANGE their mindset and come down from their ivory towers to ground zero to feel the misery of the rakyat.

    For all Malaysians, even the fence-sitters to feel that a CHANGE in government is necessary the downside of the status quo need to be explained. The BN MPs from Sabah and Sarawak who have been branded as frogs by everyone including Mahathir need to be convinced that their future and the future of their peoples is with PKR and not the rotten BN.

  62. The effect of fuel hike is instantly seen. I was on my way down to Jalan Pasar before noon today and was surprised at the few number of cars on the road. It only took me ten minutes to reach Pudu from Cheras (a journey which would normally take half an hour). If everyone thinks the same way, i.e. travelling less and only when necessary, then the fuel hike may not prove profitable to those concerned. And if everyone were to boycott Petronas filling stations, then Petronas will definitely feel the pinch!!!!!

  64. Sigh……. Malaysia is such a lucky country. Even after a 40.6% increase, its petrol price is still one of the lowest in the world. (All prices in US Dollar.

    London…….$2.15
    Singapore…$1.58
    Tokyo……..$1.50
    Sri Lanka….$1.46
    Sydney……$1.39
    Delhi……….$1.19
    USA………..$1.00
    Bangladesh..$0.97
    Vietnam……$0.90
    Malaysia……$0.83
    Indonsia……$0.65
    Beijing………$0.61

    Source: Reuters

  65. Fuel hike would definitely have an adverse impact on the sale of Proton cars. No wonder AAB is disowning Proton just before the fuel hike. Now that Proton is “bare” and unprotected, can it again be as arrogant as it was in 2000 where EON salesmen asked for “under counter” money for “fast cars”?

  68. YB,

    I was inspired to write this poem after hearing all the news about the latest fuel price hikes. May I share this with you and your readers?

    Troubled times

    What troubled times we are living in nowadays…
    Yesterday, we said goodbye to rm1.92 petrol,
    Now we don’t even know whether to put our lives
    In the hands of the public transport drivers
    Or even walk all the way, if need be.

    I can’t even begin to envision a truly developed Malaysia
    When the poor gets poorer,
    And when the nasi lemak gets smaller
    And even we have to pay premium prices for our bread.

    I don’t know…
    Should I just pretend that everything is alright and walk along
    With the nonchalant masses?
    Or rally like-minded people and call for
    An end to injustice, unequality and imbalance.

    I might be scared of even holding a placard stating my beliefs.
    I don’t even want to be robbed.
    I don’t want to die young or even penniless.
    I just don’t want to live in fear everyday.

    These are troubled times we are living in everyday…..

  69. MIC, MCA and other components party MP, all KECUT…

    same like Nazi Nazri said they are juniors and sit behind him, he’s full minister can “goreng” RAKYAT in-front of YouTube.com…

    kepada anjing-anjing BN, please use your CACING BRAIN to think who are you in BN… just a anjing jalanan… you’re chosen by the RAKYAT to protect RAKYAT interest not Makan, Tidur and Berak bersama UMNO…!

    Wake UP…!

  70. I have a question. Do you guys think that at the very least that trucks etc ought to get an exemption of sorts or at least bigger subsidies? Would this mitigate the rising costs of logistics for our local industries and hence slow down the general price increases, or do you think that the overall petrol price increase’s effect on inflation is going to be so large so as to render any such attempts futile?

    BTW, coming from Sarawak, I can say that it is very unlikely that Sarawak MPs would switch. If you know Sarawak at all, you’d know that we have one of the most corrupted man in Msia pulling the strings. He is probably going to take this chance to secure his position from ACA and the Federal Govt itself (!). I heard that he has been staying in power this long because he has yet to find a way to watch over his interests after he leaves office. It seems that he is going to get his chance. Just watch within this year or two! Also, PKR and DAP need to work out their issues in Sarawak first – in the last election, one or two seats would have gone the opposition’s way had it not been for DAP and PKR contesting for those seats at the SAME time!

  71. I think its ok to raise petrol price. Not sure why you all react so strongly. Its not like we’re so special from other people around the world. We’re not high volume petrol exporter also. What we need to blame is inability of BN to make our currency exchange higher and better transportation. Anyhow, this is expected.

  72. Enough is enough! The price hike is totally unjustifiable. The Federal Government should be focussing on cutting waste, reducing leakages, rooting out corruption, optimise savings, etc. etc. Malaysia is the laughing stock of the world when virtually other oil producing nations maintain very low prices for their consumers! It is only RM0.16 in per litre in Venezuela.

    Something is not right … PETRONAS must be made to account to the people. BN must be made to account how can they justify spending grandiose sum on mega projects which benefit the people very little and yet remove the so-called subsidies which come at a bad time, i.e. in view of the global food price crisis?

  73. kkc – I don’t think the problem is that prices are going up. I think it is the fact that it’s a sudden 70sen increase that is causing so much anger. I am also not sure if raising our exchange would help us since we need to maintain lower export prices to compete with other countries. But you are right, BN needs to improve our public transport services.

  74. The BN government’s priorities are wrong. The priority is not to gradually remove the subsidy at this stage, but how best to use PETRONAS export earnings to help the middle and lower income people. If the government is interested in helping consumers, PETRONAS should be *nationalised* and be made accountable to Parliament so that its pricing monopoly can be broken.

    Let nationalisation take place within a free market environment that promotes *free* ocpmetition in determining the price index.

    And let the DAP and the Pakatan Rakyat be at the forefront of resisting this totally unjustifiable and unconscionable policy of this inept and incompetent BN federal government on the back of the massive display of public outrage and anger!

    ” …to fire the first salvo of protest on behalf of Malaysians at the hefty and unconscionable increase of oil prices yesterday.”

    YES!!! Hidup Roket! Maju DAP! Utamakan-lah Malaysia!

  75. The country was raped by Mamakthir and his cronies for 22 years with impunity because others from the MCA, MIC, GERAKAN, ppp and other component parties from Sabah and Sarawak with vested interests decided to suck up to the dictator for the crumbs from his dinner table.

    Petronas which was formed with the rakyat’s money became the financer for all the mega projects of the Mamak era. He even had the temerity to demand a crooked bridge be built to pander to his ego.

    The privatization or is it piratization of public utilities, the Proton setup which only benefits a particular race at the expence of all the races, the extension of the NEP indefinitely (quote Najis), the so-called subsidies for fuel when the country is a net exporter of petroleum and of course the lop-sided toll concession agreements in favour of the toll operators (operated by UMNO party cronies) have only brought disaster and hardship to the rakyat during his dictatorial rule.
    AAB’s dismal 4 year’s performance, the present directionless beginning does not portend a bright future for the country. A hefty 90 odd percent hike in petrol prices and an exorbitant 200 odd percent hike for diesel from 2004 to date only shows what a miserable record of inefficient governance he has to show the rakyat. Not that the country would have been better off if the mamak was still in power. At least he had the foresight to abandon ship when the going was still good but to a bumbling simpleton!

    It is not fair to put all the blame on AAB but then when he has a bunch of idiots in his cabinet, what can one expect? More hard times for the rakyat!

  76. Here again another flip flop decision to ban the pumping of petrol in the border towns. We have another flip flop when Shahrir are saying there will be no petrol price increase on Tuesday and the very next day Bodohwi announce the price increase.

    Is there any consultation among the ministers and the PM??? Are they working under two separate entities?? Why are they confusing us all?? Bodohwi are just not the material to handle the economy of the country.

    They are asking us to adjust our lifestyles but with so little money left in the pocket, how to adjust??

  77. “Imagine ur dad is a fisherman, he caught 1kg of fish and cook for u, then he ask u to pay him RM2.70, the son complained why ? The dad told the son, look … the fish will cost u RM4.00 if u buy outside. It is already cheap as I subsidized u RM1.30”

    sonofpenang
    blogspot

  78. I am very disappointed with the federal government. It is not the price increase that we are all pissed off about. It’s the blatant disregard and disrespectful way in which it was handled. Pak Lah says he will announce new subsidy plans on 4-June-2008 to be implemented in August 2008. Then without warning, like a stab in the back, he announced immediate price increase from RM 1.92 to 2.70 per litre with immediate effective after midnight. WHAT KIND OF government is this? Is he our Prime Minister or a Dictator? Where is law and order? Try doing this to the civil servants, announce salary will be released on 30th June then on 1st July, tell them all get salary cut by 25% with immediate effect. I bet the whole of Putrajaya & every other government building will be on fire. Literally.

    How nice if he would announce that he would step down on 30th July 2008 and then immediately resign from UMNO today.

  81. Blame our misfortunes for in spite of a tsunami we are unable to change a government that is corrupt to the core. Where has Petronas money gone and how it is spent, nobody knows except those sitting right at the top of UMNO. They will keep on bleeding the rakyat until we are dry, perhaps with the notion that they won’t be the Government for long. As the saying goes a cornered tiger is a dangerous tiger and that is what UMNO exactly is.

    They will keep on telling the rakyat to “change lifestyle” as we often heard even after the Feb 2006 price increased. The Big Question is they changing their lifestyle as leader by example. On the contrary now they can afford a better and more luxurious lifestyle after robbing from the rakyat. More money to the Government means more money into their pockets. The PM can now fly more comfortably in his private jet and perhaps have more honeymoons with his new found beloved wife. The FT ministry can have more visits to Europe for lawatan sambil belajar. More money for the cronies and more money to buy votes, in away to get better anchorage to be the government. This exercise is not simply that they are unaffordable to subsidize but a political maneuver.

    You do not need an economist to know why the Government has become a sadist to punish the rakyat. The hefty increase twice during this Bodohwi’s era is unprecedented. Simple economics will tell that Malaysia being a net exporter of oil will stand more to gain in any rise in price as compare to the losses in subsidizing. Have you all realized that they conveniently forgot about Brunei?

  82. If I am a company CEO, do u think I mind a Rm0.78 increase of petrol? For those that approve it, they didn’t even know how to pump petrol. Unless, they have to go down the petrol station, pay and pump their own. Everything they uses is consider allowances or claim, for sure no problem even a increase of Rm2.00/ litle.

    End of the day, the top management will not have impact, cause everything uses is not from own pockets.

  83. I dare to think that perhaps..just perhaps..that Bodohwi got bad advise (to drastically increase fuel & food prices) by insiders out to bring him down silently. Why not? Bad move makes very angry Rakyat which is not limited to none Bumiputras.
    If this is the case, then it’s a very nicely orchestrated coup d’état and I “salute you Sir”…whoever you maybe! But then again, given that that Bohdowi doesn’t know what the hell is going most of the time, it wasn’t a very difficult stunt to pull off.

  84. Of course , the price increase of petrol and diesel is expected, as it is a Global issue BUT, the government should have more sympathy to the raayat than a SUDDEN AND HUGH HIKE when the raayat were suffering from higher cost of living from price increase in rice , wheat flour and every consummable products.

    Yab Perdana Menteri, STOP asking the raayat to change their lifestyle. They have no more money even to buy a loaf of bread. The lifestyle change should be from the TOP down.

    1) cut your salary by 50%.
    2) cut all ministers salary by 40%.
    3) take a cab or bus or walk from your official residence to JPM. VERY short distance only.
    4) sell off the jets.
    5) cut salaries of ceo of GLC by 30%.
    6) dont need to bring wives along on business trip.
    7) cut down on fancy launching at 5 stars hotel.
    8) no need for police escorts.
    9) buy your own car / pay your own petrol. (if needed).
    10) dont show off by having international events that dont benefit the raayat.

    until than, DONT ASK THE RAAYAT TO CHANGE LIFESTYLE.

  85. These day light robbers BN goons publicly declared projected inflation only 5% for this year.

    Hey, joking or kok toking. Think Rakyat Malaysia retarded?

    This gomen utterly made up of bunch of professional liars and cheaters.

    Hope BN blind supporters now feeling the knock out punch from their own masters.

    Chinese can never fight alone put it straight. Only Rakyat Malaysia ie Malays, Chinese, Indians dll all stand together united under one roof can weather the dark BN storm! Pressure cooker is building fast!

  86. The people is getting poorer mr PM, are you awake?

    our oil company will again, report a huge post tax profit.

    he no Robin Hood you know, you are the sheriff of Notingham, you rob the poor to aid the rich.

    HOW MUCH IS THE IPP PAYING FOR DIESEL NOW? I REALLY WANT TO KNOW!

  87. Bravo to the government, Malaysia has deteriorated in the poverty index. Are we going to end up like Philippines, Bangladesh and Indonesia? Sooner or later our future generation will degenerate to low cost labour and maids?

  89. If only the government can cut down its excess.
    Pak Lah reduce his overseas trip. Fly on a commercial jet. Sell the executive jet.
    Scrap the Monsoon cup. Cancel the space programs. Do away with commission for the purchases of arms and military hardwares.
    Lots More. Arresrt all corrupted bastards and make them return their ill gotten wealth.
    With the money saved, it could actually subsidise the petrol.

  90. This increase is shocking but more is to be expected. Please continue to speak out that rise in prices of petrol and electricity, will almost certainly fuel inflation and that will certainly worsen the crime situation. We are all at risk. Abolishing corruption under this Barisan Government is our dream. I hope to see see it in my lifetime, but somehow I don think so. You cant teach the crab to walk straight.

  92. >righttoequality Says:

    Bravo to the government, Malaysia has deteriorated in the poverty index. Are we going to end up like Philippines, Bangladesh and Indonesia? Sooner or later our future generation will degenerate to low cost labour and maids?……….

    Hmmmm……Malaysian can compete with others globally in term of low-cost labour and maids…afterall we are still considered a third world country.

  93. TheWrathOfGrapes Says:

    Today at 15: 59.17 (1 hour ago)
    Sigh……. Malaysia is such a lucky country. Even after a 40.6% increase, its petrol price is still one of the lowest in the world. (All prices in US Dollar.

    London…….$2.15
    Singapore…$1.58
    Tokyo……..$1.50
    Sri Lanka….$1.46
    Sydney……$1.39
    Delhi……….$1.19
    USA………..$1.00
    Bangladesh..$0.97
    Vietnam……$0.90
    Malaysia……$0.83
    Indonsia……$0.65
    Beijing………$0.61

    Source: Reuters

    —————————————————————-

    Hey Bro, you compares like this not fair. Look at our neighbours, cars is cheaper, less toll, medical benefits, unemployment benefit, clean transparent government, good infra and utilities. LOOK AT US?? We have the worst standards. Don forget we have crude oil resorces. Want to compares??

  94. Indeed i agreed with all of you…I wish the DAP or PKR is time to do something about that group of idiot that sit on the cabinet position chair, those buaya and vampire that suck away our country money and OUR money too and only good to make us suffer and not mentioned keep cheating us…

  95. The consequences of fuel increase in Malaysia –

    1) Higher crime rate

    2) Increased unemployment

    3) Salaries cut

    4) Increased rural and urban poverty

    5) Higher inflation rate

    6) SMIs and SMEs are likely to close down

    7) Street demonstrations

    8) Possible use of ISA

    9) The rakyat become more angry

    10) Change of Federal Government from BN to PR

    Q – Another political tsunami in the making?

  96. What would happen if crude drops to say USD 60 and stay at that level? Petronas profits and government revenue from oil would drop 50%. Would BN government adjust pump price to reflect cost which would probably be around RM2? Government revenue would now be seriously slashed. How to finance projects? pay civil servants? Or will rakyat have to pay a tax on fuel to keep the price at 2.70 to meet shortfalls in revenue?
    I suggest the following measure:
    1. Tax toll road operators at 80% income tax instead of 26%. Their share price will drop like a rock. Khanazah can mop up the shares and nationalise toll operations, then charge a much lower toll rate.
    2. Do the same to IPPs. Mop up cheap shares then supply electricity at fair rates.

  97. The leadership of AAB..’Lembap,Lembik,Lembut’.
    No wonder DRM is so frustrated with him.
    Suka-suka naik when the economic is no good.
    Suka-suka tidur when asked for decision…( please refer to Khairy )
    The world is laughing and laughing and laughing at us.

    Ever wonder what has he done since becoming PM..
    how many countries has he tried to promote Malaysia?
    Or just mahu main cucuktanam ( agriculture)?
    Does he has the aim of turning Malaysia as a developing country?Malaysia Vision 2020 and it coming closer and closer….

  98. TheWrathOfGrapes Says:
    Sigh……. Malaysia is such a lucky country. Even after a 40.6% increase, its petrol price is still one of the lowest in the world. (All prices in US Dollar.

    London…….$2.15
    Singapore…$1.58
    Tokyo……..$1.50
    Sri Lanka….$1.46
    Sydney……$1.39
    Delhi……….$1.19
    USA………..$1.00
    Bangladesh..$0.97
    Vietnam……$0.90
    Malaysia……$0.83
    Indonsia……$0.65
    Beijing………$0.61

    How can Malaysia, a net oil exporter, be compared to oil importers? Why are other oil exporters not included in the list?

  101. the AAB administration is so coward as to announce the oil price increase this week, when parliament is not in session.. why not they announce it last week, and let Pakatan Rakyat MPs table an emergency motion..

  102. And we dont have a choice.
    Poor and dangerous public transport system is only alternative for most of us.
    Cities in China are doing away with motorcycles on their streets by providing good and efficient public transport.
    Here in malaysia we will surely see more of those two wheelers.
    That is Regression.
    Perhaps there is some truth in the statement: “All Roads lead to Rome.”
    By regressing we will and can also achieve our 2020 developed nation objective.

  104. I’m OK with the removal of subsidy of the fuel, as suggested by the shadow budget 2008 by DAP… it’s perfectly fine…

    However I think this price hike is too sudden and too steep… and the fact that, like Kit you’d said, the transparency of Petronas funding, corruptions issue, and the lack of development in public transport etc is worrying…

    Why so hurry? Why not sit down, and deal with these issues before you lift the petrol subsidy?

  105. The first thing I did was increase and adjust the the salaries of my staffs..today.
    We have no extra profits to do that….but my staffs will be suffering. I cannot just watch and do nothing.

  107. TheWrathOfGrapes Says:
    Sigh……. Malaysia is such a lucky country. Even after a 40.6% increase, its petrol price is still one of the lowest in the world. (All prices in US Dollar.

    London…….$2.15
    Singapore…$1.58
    Tokyo……..$1.50
    Sri Lanka….$1.46
    Sydney……$1.39
    Delhi……….$1.19
    USA………..$1.00
    Bangladesh..$0.97
    Vietnam……$0.90
    Malaysia……$0.83
    Indonsia……$0.65
    Beijing………$0.61

    I noticed you added our neighbour Singapore but you have obviously forget to include our neighbour, Brunei who is also an oil exporter like us.

  109. They have done it. What can we do?
    They can tell you all the reasons…why it should be done.
    And we Malaysians know they are a bunch of cock and bull reasons.
    It’s one cover up….after another….and they simply cannot find a way…to stop Singaporeans coming to Johore….buying cheap petrol.
    But..that is not the main reason….as don’t think Singaporeans want to waste time and energy…to save some money.. buy petrol and go back,. They may save and enjoy some savings….spending them in Malaysia…as our important.. tourists. It’s similar to people going to Hatyai…savings so much..and spend it all there too. So indirectly…it is a great booster for tourism. Why don’t UMNO think like that?
    And if you say….introduce “toot toot”….the Vespa type of small taxi transportations plus horse and carriage…..in few of our cities….they know….this will kill off..may buying cars…so cannot be done. It will effect Proton good sales!! And proton belomngs to UMNO….indirectly.
    They love to find ways and means to sell more cars…and don’t tell me….they cannot predict the petrol problems….few years ahead of it all.
    You see…they always act…when are caught..with their pants down.
    So increase price…balance up with some goodies announced. Are they kidding?
    The goodies will take one year to get back..plus another year to actually get the refund….that is.if you actually can get the refunds….at all….but the fact is…..Malaysians need to buy petrol daily on cash basis……so it will be those with fixed low income workers…suffer most MONTHLY!!. That’s why..I had to act fast…..and increase their salaries…no choice. We bosses must suffer together with the workers….when the chips are down.
    What can we do?
    Diam..said spend spend spend…to create turnover….to cover up his corrupted deed with Mahathir.. It worked!!
    Dollah said …..save save save…change lifestyle. It will also work.
    Why not!!
    So Malaysians…lets follow all those good advises….from UMNO…and vote them in forever and ever.
    Malayasia Boleh!!

  110. It is surprise that the five states opposition in the north did not protest for the oil price increased. Are they comfortable with it? (Don’t they’re realized that they are now “Pembangkang” and suppose to fight for the “Rakyat” here)

  111. Looks like Badawi is too scared to show his face in public that he has to send his wife to make a speech for him. Malaysia has become not a good country to live in because of UMNO’s corruption and greed. And UMNO has the nerve to ask the rakyat to change their lifestyle when it should be UMNO to change its lifestyle of rampant waste and inefficiencies.

  112. Just wait. UMNO will come up with new “projects” that will help the rakyat through difficult times. Innovative transport arrangements, maybe even accelerating the various LRT extensions. Of course, due to the urgency of such projects, these will have to be done through “negotiated tenders”. Guess who will be the lucky contractors and subcontractors.

  113. UMNOputras to change their lifestyle ? Are you kidding me ? Rosmah to stop her shopping sprees ? Badawi to sell the new Airbus A320 jet ? Azalina to stop promoting cuti-cuti Malaysia ? Reezal to sell his Bentley ? The son-in-law to “bungkus” his TENC outlet at the Pavilion ?

    Did someone volunteer to run naked in the city if UMNOputras can change their lifestyles ?

  116. What could be reasons enough for AAB to let rip this fuel price increase in the middle of the week, done so conveniently to miss the first seating and yet so urgently before second seating of parliament?
    Well, one is to incite enough knee jerk reactions from the public.

    The attempt to seed this thru the motoring public is plain enough to see with the motoring public confronted with sudden traffic jams some up to 7 hours. Unplugging the plug on a Wednesday at 6 pm right in the middle of a working week cannot be any more calculative to incite anger from the Malaysian motoring public, which is the largest public grouping during peak hours.

    What is so critical [so urgent and so important] happening to Malaysia that it must have such maximum effects above plus that the Malaysian public at large must also suffer? The twin reasons officially promoted by the cabinet: firstly, to stop what the government termed as huge losses thru its domestic fuel pricing system because of the steep global hydrocarbon prices and rising, and secondly to stop profiteering on the cabinet decision [to stop the subsidy].

    But these official reasons are so generic, and so matter of fact, so routine given the Malaysian backdrop. The Malaysian government routinely loses in so many aspects of its business facets: the PKFZ, the illegal migrant in Sabah, the automobile industry, the brain drain, and not mention many NPLs and bail outs. In profiteering, what about the APs, Mr 12 % ali baba, ad infinity. In other words, the implementation can easily wait until further inputs from the public; after all many things are in waiting in Malaysia: the IPMC, the illegal migrant in Sabah, the Lingam tape etc.

    So what was it that was and is so critical to warrant such implementation at 6 pm on a Wednesday smack in the middle of the week ,as if Malaysia would vaporize in thin air if done so?

    It may turn out to be very personal in nature in the continuing standoff between TDM and AAB.

    TDM highlights on AAB alleged part in the Iraq Oil for Food Scandal, must be sensitive enough to drown in out with the agitation of a few million motoring public.

    Could it also be the resurrection of the illegal migrant subject in Sabah which could attract unwanted international attention?

    Or could it be more political for an UMNO renaissance with a true blue Malay founder [as opposed to UMNO Baru founded by TDM whose immediate ancestry hailed from India].

  118. How come they are still there making all the important decisions? They are obsessed with cutting subsidies because that is the only government expenditure that they can dispense with without hurting their pockets. After all our hurt is their gain. Imagine once the subsidies are reduced, they could have so many billions more to siphon and squander. Ya, coming back to my opening line, why why why are they still there? Why all the big talks in PK to take over the federal government have fizzled to nothingness. Please don’t talk too much if you can’t deliver, PK. Soon people may not even have confidence to let you govern.

  119. I think that Malaysians must learn the bitter lesson that it MATTERS who they put in power.
    If not for anything, it’s because the incumbent is in a very powerful position to do things that will shake the whole country and seriously affect your lives.
    If you have an incumbent who refuses to leave even when he is voted out, what can you do? Just look at some of those “leaders” in Myanmar and Zimbabwe and many others like them around the world.
    They will have the police, the army, the judiciary etc on their side. You have nothing!
    Isn’t that a very sobering thought?

  124. COULD IT BE THE GOVT IS IN A CRITICAL FINANCIAL SITUATION? HOW COME? SIMPLE. FORWARD SALE FOR OUR CRUDE OIL FOR YEAR 2008 AT AVERAGE US70 PER BARREL BUT NOW HAVE TO BUY FOR OWN CONSUMPTION AT CURRENT US135 PER BARREL. SO NO MONEY LAH !!! HOW TO SUBSIDIZE?

  125. Bottom line is we don’t have good quality leaders to manage the country’s natural resources. Petronas may run short of funds to subsidize the fuel for the rakyat. What if petronas has several long term sales contracts to sell crude oil at USD60, 70 or even 90 per barrel thinking it was the good price then. Now that the price is above USD130 making billions of ringgit loss of rakyat’s money. This maybe one of the possible scenario that the government made the huge increased in fuel to cover the lost in petronas revenue.
    Malaysia has many capable people to manage big organization but the government choose not to hire them because of politic and color. What the waste of our human capital.

  126. Will all the bosses of companies seriously think of their staffs with fixed income….now getting less than 40% of what their salaries were worth…….last month?
    They will all be in great financial difficulties.
    Talk as much a we want…..but bosses should adjust salaries and pay them more…to balance their monthly budget …..whether they like it or not.
    Never on the history of Malaysia…have we get such a sharp change of our monthly budget..all shooked up…never stable …for even one month!
    The low and middle income group…..all will suffer most.
    People makes a company…don’t bosses ever forget that.
    I have done my part…and God only know…..as there is no extra profits….to do that….but it must be done.

  128. TUN M. REFUTED PM’S CLAIM
    —————————-

    The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said yesterday:

    “We cannot keep subsidising at the current rate…….”

    Tun M. refuted the PM’s claim (tonight’s China Press, page A10). He said Petronas currently is making huge profits; coupled with the increased tax revenues derived from palm oil, rubber and tin (the prices of these commodities have gone up by 400%) Malaysia is able to afford the oil subsidies without hurting the country’s coffer.

    Tun M’s judgment could not be far wrong as he had been the finance minister before. The PM’s contradicting statement, that the government could no longer subsidize petrol at the current rate, inevitably leads me to conclude that the money meant for petrol subsidies has already been spent for other purposes and the country’s coffer is now dry and petrol subsidies have to be scaled down.

  132. I really don’t care if fuel price increase provided the government take the money and do something useful to us people. They keep compares our fuel price with others. What for? If really want to compares, look at how Singapore runs its country. Singapore has no crude oil, no land to plant pineapple, rubber trees, palm oil, rice, We have tin mines, sand , timber…yet not enough to feed our people? Where the money all goes?? How singapore do it really make me feel ashame

  134. I agree with the comments concerning pay rise. Pay rise is now an immediate social obligation because it is not just the oil that is on the increase. Even electricity. Don’t be surprised if all the daily important stuff will be increased. You will have to minus something in order to add something.

  135. Look at all these money from govt. go

    “Mudajaya secures RM958mil job from Bina Puri”

    Young young already successful Malay company? And people are suffering the govt. keep giving contract worth billionth.

  138. pak lah naikkan harga kerana dia tahu.. dia hanya ada masa 5 tahun or less before he will be kicked out… so masa ini lah dia sedut secara maksimum!!!!

    KAMI ‘SAYANG’ PAK LAH SEHINGGA KAMI MENANGIS KESAYANGAN…!!!

  139. Sarawakains should be one of the first to ask WHO STOLE AWAY OUR OIL? Should Sarawak try to researve our oil and use them when other countries are running out of supply? Federal government should stop tapping on our wealth

  140. Everything that these clowns do is a result of an ulterior motive – create available funds for projects that go to their cronies and relatives. You think they care about the rakyat ? You think they do forward planning on alleviating the burden to the poor ?

    They are in politics to steal, and if there is nothing left to steal, cut subsidies so that funds can be made available for their own ends.

    “We are not in the business of cheating the people”. AAB, 2005

  141. Pak Lah should explain why the petrol price (RM2.70) of Malaysia, which is an oil-exporting country, is higher than the petrol price (RM2.43) of China, which is an oil-importing country (refer to China Press, 2008-6-6, page A9).

    If oil production in Malaysia is not profitable, the government should immediately close down Petronas and make Malaysia an oil-importing country and lower the price of petrol to RM2.43.

  142. Subsidies are normally viewed as economically wasteful. They mess with prices, distort supply and demand, not only do not create resources but divert them from development projects that could create resources and value, and when redistributing wealth do so with considerable inefficiency. For example The Star on May 28, 2008 reported that about 8% of the 70 million litres of fuel subsidies given out to fishermen nationwide last year were sold off acording to Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM). Errant fishermen in Perlis, Kelantan, Kedah and northern Perak had sold the subsidised diesel to Thailand while those in Sabah sold to Indonesia because they made more money this way than catching fish!

    The joke is when the Malaysian government now tries to be a good economist and withdraws petrol subsidies, it cannot use the economic principle of wastage to justify it because it has never shown itself to be a good economist, and is perceived with justification by its constitutents to (i) abuse the savings from subsidies in wasteful and unviable development projects from which political elites make ill gotten gains from public coffers (ii) appropriate national wealth and windfall from dividends and taxed from Petronas super bumber profits without transparency and accountability (iii) withdraw support from a class of people using petrtol/diesal who have already been taxed exorbitantly by road tax, excise and custom duties on imported cars and toll charges. It is hard to condemn subsidies per se when one one promotes and conmmits huge wastage in the biggest subsidy program – the NEP! Somemore the manner by which the petrol subsidy was withdrawn, not in small staggered way to provide room for market to adjust but a sudden comparatively hefty 40% & 60% rise causing immediate spill over effects in other areas (eg cost of electricity tariffs going up 20%), rise of transportation costs for goods, generating an all round cost push inflationary pressures. This done at the time when Malaysians are bracing for world wide rise in food prices, looming recession, uncertainties of equity and financial markets in the wake of subprime problem widening to likely credit bust.

    When the government is still reeling from March 8th political tsunami and have yet to recover its balance, one wonders why the PM is in the haste to make this policy shift so soon and drastically biting the bullet of political fall out.

    Govt’s Credibility is severely tested here : already people are complaining why before election they promised to defer the hike and now reneged; why the hike expected in August was brought a trife forward etc.

    Demonstrations on prices by Joe Public from all segments across the board affected are not the same as that of Bersih’s or Hindraf’s representing certain interest groups. They cannot be put down so easily by police. Besides this unpopular move will open the pandora box for all other areas to be scrutinised and attacked – whether concessionaire agrements, the PKFZ RM 4.6 billion scandal etc.

    So the question is what it is that we do not know regarding why the government chooses such timing for such drastic measure and take such a political risk. Was AB’s hand forced and he put in front line as canon fodder; are the government’s coffers/budget under tremendous strain, and if so from what other things unknown to us or what???

  143. Comparison of the our petrol price with other oil-producing countries

    UAE– RM1.19/litre
    Eygpt– RM1.03/litre
    Bahrain– RM0.87/litre
    Qatar– RM0.68/litre
    Kuwait– RM0.67/litre
    Saudi Arabia– RM0.38/litre
    Iran– RM0.35/litre
    Nigeria– RM0.32/litre
    Turkmenistan– RM0.25/litre
    Venezuela– RM0.16/litre
    MALAYSIA– RM2.70/litre and going RM4 come August!!!

    Mr Finance Minister who was sacked from Econs Stream in UM, would you care to explain the above?

  144. AAB has just been ranked as the champion scumbag of the century in Malaysia politics. Together with the number 2, number 3 and so on in UMNO and BN.

    Other than a few third world countries, you could hardly hear that people involved in mega corruption cases, murder cases, arrogont, crimes of different types could remain as leaders of the nation. It is really sad to say, Malaysia is one of them.

    Kit Siang, your people are suffering. DAP members should be united in dealing with the scumbags, any internal conflicts and power struggle should not persist for now. PR should focus fire power at this very moment and get rid of these scumbags once and for all.

    The chance for a PM to make such suicidal decision does not come everyday afterall, get the most out of it!

  145. Dear All,

    As Malaysian, I am happy that the Government has finally come to terms that prolong subsidizing the petrol price in the country is not the way going forward. The Government has reconcile with the fact of the long term and far reaching implication reality of high energy prices and their impact on the economy. This is just the beginning and as everyone would naturally resist changes we can well expect ramifications. Looks like the Government has expected to brace through a storm with this decision to revise petrol and diesel prices.

    I sincerely hope that the Government has set in motion the ability to ensure and see these actions through. As the after effects of any upward revision on fuel prices would lead to inflation and to a certain extent runaway inflation which would immediately set in on the man in the street if no firm and proper follow through actions are put in place by the Government. These follow through actions would somewhat serve as a cushion for the man in the street going through the immediate shock of a price increase.

    What about the after shocks like public disorder and crime rates? These are the consequences of a poorly managed follow through actions. Therefore it is of importance that the Government has seriously thought through these issues before implementing the stinging increase on the public.

    Many would also make hay while the sunshines by indiscriminately increasing prices of their wares by using this issue as justification. However, this is to be expected in a world where the fittest survives.

  146. Knowing that his days as PM are numbered, the current petrol price increase might well be PL’s last ditch effort to raise funds for his cronies and relatives’ projects. Once the petrol price is raised, the issue whether PL would be re-elected as President of UMNO in December is not important any more, since funds for cronies and relatives’ projects are already secured.

  147. During 12GE, people are advise to vote for opposition to deny the 2/3 majority for BN. After we have successfully done that, looks like the BN still got the power of doing whatever they want.

    Can anyone explain the benefit of denying the 2/3 majority??? From what I see recently, it does not help at all.The opposition parties still has to perform demo here and there….???

  148. k1980 gave us an interesting list which i reproduce below

    UAE– RM1.19/litre
    Eygpt– RM1.03/litre
    Bahrain– RM0.87/litre
    Qatar– RM0.68/litre
    Kuwait– RM0.67/litre
    Saudi Arabia– RM0.38/litre
    Iran– RM0.35/litre
    Nigeria– RM0.32/litre
    Turkmenistan– RM0.25/litre
    Venezuela– RM0.16/litre

    And he wants PM to explain.

    Its obvious. Something is missing from those countries.

    Ans: UMNO

  149. BN MPs who posses compassion for the poor must now cross over to PR. The Badawi administration would never dare to enforce by-elections now that the wrath and contempt of the people are focused on BN

  150. Nigel says:
    “This fuel hike is outrageous. It’s robbing the poor and giving to the rich. How can we Malaysians go on living like this? Help us.”

    I would say,”Robbing Msians to give to UMNOputras”.

  151. Remember the mega corridors projects that were launched before 12th General Erection that cost the country hundreds of billions of ringgits? It is like signing a blank cheque and now the great cronies trying recover from the rakyat.

    What is this saving of few billions of fuel compare to the great almighty hundreds billions ringgit WHITE ELEPHANTS locating at North, South, East, West that made us the most idiotic country in South East Asia!

  152. You think that Badawi will now call off the construction contract for the new palace ? Noooooo….because it is already given to an UMNO crony, an unknown construction company. You think that they will reconsider the billions already committed to defence equipment ? Nooooooo…because commissions have already been promised or paid.

    It is sad that they only think of one thing – how to enrich themselves, and if it is at the expense of the rakyat, so be it.

  153. What is the difference between Malaysia and Singapore?

    Singaporean loves their govt eventhough there are a lot of restrictions but they realise their country is manage by capable and qualified people that can do big things for the good of the nation. In a way, the Singapore govt puts the nation’s interest and their top priority.

    The BN govt…on the other hand, are manage but people that are not qualified, only think of their own interest and interest of their family members and treats the rakyat as slaves.

  154. The country is expected to save RM13.7 Billion a year from the reduction in fuel subsidies. This RM13.7 Billion is the average cost to build a badawi corridor. Now you see the link? We have to eat less so that the corridors can be built.

  156. I am trying to take a different look. Subsidising fuel, is it like a ‘NEP’ in energy global market? Has the government been over protecting the people and now we are all spoilt?

  157. can anyone pls let me know what is the email contact of PM?i am going to SCRUUUUUUUUUUW him! i never see such a jam near the patrol station on that wed evening.a foreigner ask me whether our PM seen the Q at the patrol station or not.he used his digital video camera to record the scene as he want to show his friends back home in UK.felt very bad.

  158. while you guys harp over petro price lah, access roads lah, tolls lah…..have anyone of our ‘caring’ politicians think about the security and safety of the people? Talking is cheap and most of the time it is these ‘loud’ mouth politicians that make the matter worst.

    Recently i had an unfortunate incident where a few robbers jumped into my house with ‘parangs’, robbed, threatened to chop our heads off, ransacked our house and eventually drove of with one of our car. Now i would say that im an average income fella staying in a old double storey terrace link house. The house is my fortress and it was intruded. I dont feel secure anymore after this harrowing experience. Bynow what i’ve just gone thru is not uncommon to many of us here. We have heard and seen our friends carjacked, bag snatched etc etc thruout the country.

    Question we ask now is howcome lawlessness is so prevalent? Is it because we have indirectly take it upon ourselves that we have a right to do everything we wanted for the sake of democratic rights and thus sending the wrong message to our youths? Where are the deterent laws to prevent crimes? Nowadays even criminal knows their rights (not surprising if our politicians are championing for them) and the police is in a dilema. Too harsh an action would warrant the wrath of our dear politicians and too soft an approach would subject to more crimes committed.

    Here, i would think that the hudud law plays an efficient role in combating would be crimes. One teacher suggests ” if your hands causes you to steal chop it off!” Too harsh? Think about it again. The law is to send a message and deter anyone from doing those actions. Of course when this hudud law is suggested…our dear YB will be the 1st to bark them off. Let someone hold a parang at your neck and let me know your views again.

    YB kit, where are your blueprints for a safe Malaysia?

  159. lextcs:

    We know you have been sent here to divert and disrupt the thought process of the angry rakyat, but stop changing the topic of this thread.

    If you can read English, it refers to the fuel price hikes and NOT to personal security, which is a topic you should refer to your UMNO masters.

  160. Petrol is free!!
    How about no import tax on cars? Free it too!
    Road users are paying road taxes using highways….freeways….everyday…with toll charges. Is that not double taxations?
    Actually car owners are paying road taxes for city and town driving. Even within city areas…so many toll charge….making fools of car owners.
    If they introduce toot toot .like the Thais…and horse and carriage….like London…combining Thai and England great ideas together…Proton will go bankcrupt!!
    No …they give you multi billions investments…monorails…this rail…that rail….all to make sure.it will not hurt Proton at all.
    Then ….the famous Petronas huge huge profits….all belonging to Malaysians…..to US ALL…yet we cannot know what they are doing with our money. It’s top secrets!!…..hahahahahaha
    Can you imagine….we the rightful shareholders.. employ some guys to run our business…..and they tell you… cannot know…what’s going on. Talk too much…get wallop…or put into the jungle.with c4!!
    Yet…so many shareholders agree with these bulliers. WHY?? Got share la…to rob us all??….hahahahahaha
    But partnering a crook…you will also got played out.
    So..supporters of UMNO…take note..you will suffer….same as all of us….lets see you ambil bodek and get favours…..hahahahahaha
    Jokes aside…I am a small tiny boss..but feel great…I increased my staffs salaries….by cutting my own salary …and expenses.
    I must focus on my staffs. That matters most to me now..as they need help.
    All okay now…I alone….suffer most!!……hahahahahaha
    Hope my example…will get all stingy bosses…to change and be real generous to their staffs…at this serious situations….involving their poor and middle class workers.
    Without them……you are nothing!!
    Ours.. is a government…managed by a pariah for 22 years,..and now few idiots,…trying to save that pariah and his croonies…all from UMNO….to tax us all again….more and more.
    Others….puppets…charge….just for show….ad one or two small fry….put to jail…..YET…one can go home from… Kajang jail every night…as he likes it. I wonder how…Abdullah Ang can do that!
    And who was the PM at that time?

  161. /// k1980 Says:
    How can Malaysia, a net oil exporter, be compared to oil importers? Why are other oil exporters not included in the list? ///

    k1980, walao and AWhite,

    First off, I didn’t come up with the list – Reuters did. The US and the UK are also oil producers.

    The key issue here is really – does Malaysia want to continue to be dependent on subsidies? Yes, the cost of petroleum in Malaysia is low because it it oozing from the ground and the sea. But do you want to sell something cheaply below market rate, just because you get it cheap? The US and the UK are oil producing countries, but they don’t sell gasoline at cost price.

    The real issue facing Malaysia is that it is fast running out of oil (can’t remember off hand – but is the oil reserves running out in the year 2012?). So, do you want to wait until 2012 or 2013 to see petrol price tripling or quadrupling then, instead of a hike of 40.6% now and adjust to market rate eventually?

    Someone mentioned Brunei. I think their reserve will last longer. Even the reserves in the UAE/Dubai are running out soon. But they were smart – they realised that long ago, and have spent the past decade building up their infrastructure, building up their tourism industry and buying up world-class companies with their oil money instead of splurging it away on white-elephant projects and sending a civilian on a space joy ride.

    Why is Malaysia in this petrolem mess? To me, the answer is clear — Proton and the ill-fated car industry. Malaysia never had and never will have any comparative, let alone competitive advantages in the car industry, and yet because of one man’s ego and misplaced and misguided nationalism and sense of industrialisation, Malaysia plunged head-long into a non-viable industry. The rest, as you can see, is history.

    Because of the Proton, there is a need to make it appear “successful”. Car prices for local cars were/are artificially kept very low to encourage ownership and sales of local-made cars. What this means is that many can now own car when, economically and financially, they would otherwise not be able to. In other words, a false demand was created.

    To make matter worse, petrol prices were heavily subsizied to stimulate car usage and car sales. Again, a false and articially high demand for petrol was created.

    So, who is to be blame for this petrol fiasco?

    If there is one thing that the Malaysian government gets it right for the past 5 decades, it is this removal of petrol subsidy. If there is one far-sighted policy that the Malaysian government can boast of in the past 5 decades, it is this scaling down of subsidies. (What, you want to wait until the oil wells run dry in 2012 before you act?). Hence, I sigh when I see the present administration being attacked relentlessly for something which is the right thing to do. If someone is to be blamed, it should be the champion of Proton. It should be He who introduced the subsidy. It is he would is the master of the crutch mentality.

    As I said before, we are all barking down the wrong oil wells. It will be running dry soon. Do you want to shed tears only when you see the coffin?

    Do we now know who is the real culprit, who is to be blamed?

    * * *

    Based on the 12 countries I quoted, only 5 are rich first-world countries. The rest are much poorer than Malaysia. Based on CIA World Factbook, their GDP per capita on a PPP basis (that takes care of the purchasing power parity) are appended in the last column.

    Just look at the Sri Lankans. Their average income is not even one third of Malaysians, but they are paying almost double the price for petrol. Malaysia’s problem is that its people have been enjoying cheap petrol for so long that they become addicted to it.

    London……..$2.15
    Singapore….$1.58
    Tokyo………$1.50
    Sri Lanka…..$1.46……….$4,000
    Sydney…….$1.39
    Delhi………..$1.19……….$2,700
    USA…………$1.00
    Bangladesh…$0.97……….$1,400
    Vietnam…….$0.90……….$2,600
    Malaysia…….$0.83……..$14,000
    Indonesia……$0.65………$3,400
    Beijing……….$0.61………$5,300

    Source: Reuters

  163. For what’s its worth, I STILL THINK this is a deliberate strategy by insiders within UMNO to force that Bodohwi to resign amidst EXPECTED massive public outcry and protest against the huge oil & rice price increases.
    Somebody DELIBERATELY GAVE VERY BAD ADVICES to that Bodohwi to hike these prices and followed immediately with announcement of hike in electricity tariffs in July too. They KNOW FULL WELL THE EXPECTED CONSEQUENCES of such unpopular and, indeed, suicidal decision especially with the already unpopularity of that Bodohwi during the last general election.
    Those “INSIDERS” are the ones who got to gain the most from the fall of that Bodohwi…the prize being the position of PM & DPM of Malaysia at the cost of the sufferings and sacrifices of Malaysians.

    To “WrathOfGrapes”, you forgot that you British salaries are at least SIX times to those of ordinary Malaysians. If you want to compare the cost of living among nations, do it properly and take all factors into considerations instead of focusing on single items.

  164. If the price hikes had been combined with the announcement that all construction projects will be put on hold, or that the ministers will all take a 50 pct pay cut, or that all overseas trips by ministers will be on MAS instead of on the private jets, or that we will sell the brand new A320 used to shuttle Badawi and his relatives, or that we will cut defence expenditure, or that government advertising will be slashed by 50 pct, etc etc, maybe – just maybe – we won’t be so p!ssed off.

    Instead, the message from BN is clear – we can’t afford to subsidise you, so it’s just too bad we had to raise the fuel price. And the electricity price. The message is simply: Tough sh!t.

  165. “FUEL PRICE HIKE: Oil exploration costs Petronas a bomb, says CEO
    News & Commentaries
    Posted by kasee
    Friday, 06 June 2008
    KUALA LUMPUR: The national oil company Petronas, which has paid the government about RM335.7 billion since its incorporation, now faces large rises in exploration costs at a much higher rate than the increase, in percentage terms, of oil prices. ”

    http://www.malaysia-today.net/2008/content/view/8460/1/
    —————————–
    Anyone wants to conduct an independent audit on the “EXPLORATION ” cost?
    Can you imagine how money could have or had “leaked” from here????

  166. voting BN during 8.3.08 .. and now you see what happen? Maybe badawi still not realise what he doing. maybe someone behind him suggest him to do such things. definetly umnoputra gang.

  167. Poor Spaceman..no more important.
    Just look at how our government spending billions upon billions…fooling Malaysians….and pocketing huge legal commissions…for party…for running dogs….and for pesonal…but personal…not directly to that mastermind pockets.
    It must travel round the world…..to have sons and daughters…getting …big bank loans….say RM100 million…no need collaterals….some 15 years ago…and make RM500 million…through a wayang kulit deal….all planned.
    Yet the father said….he has smart children…that’s why they are so filthy rich.
    And now…that man…..is accusing Dollah on corruptions…which strangely.. are true too!
    So why no one sue anyone? Why Dollah don’t sue Mahathir….or Mahathir…talk less….go make dozens of police reports ….on corruptions…get all the crooks to court…and save Malaysians being cheated?
    Why all talk…no actions?
    hi UMNO ministers and supporters….why are you so proud of a crooked party?

  168. rainbowseahorse – look at the per capita GDP on a purchasing power parity basis (third column). Sri Lankans average annual income is US$4,000, while Malaysian’s is US$14,000. On the other hand, Sri Lankans are paying US$1.46 for petrol, while Malaysians are paying only US$0.83 (after the 40.6% increase).

    So, what do you suggest. Continue with the subsidy until the oil run out, and then you run amok?

  169. Dear Godfather,

    The Star reported today Starbiz. page B10.

    “ECM Libra Financial Group Bhd expects to grow its shareholders’ funds to between RM4 billion to RM5 billion in the next three years from Rm500 million currently.”

    read between the lines. period.

  172. Adam Yong:

    Not if PR takes over the federal government soon. Then there will be a reopening of the saga where Avenue, an asset of the government, was sold to ECM Libra for a pittance and with no competitive bidding.

  174. dear Thewrathofgrapes.

    “continue the subsidy until the oil run out , and than you run amok”?

    Why dont you address this concern of yours to YAB Perdana Menteri, to continue the extravagant lifestyle , until the oil run out, and than the prime minister and his ministers and executives will ride a bike ?

    The very petrol that drives the S500 class of some of the MBs are paid and subsidised by the more deserving raayat.

    Provided that the leaders pay for their own fuel , pay for their own air ticket ,( from their own gaji ) . i am not complaining further.

  176. I don’t think anyone can do anything to stop the price increase as this is a global issue, unless Malaysia has plenty of oil like the Arab countries. It is better that the increase comes during the bn’s time than when PR comes to power. Since bn has been ruling and mis-ruling the country all this time, why not let bn do the explaination to the people?

    The rich and the powerful and the corrupt will not feel any pain and hardship when prices gone up and it is always the poor and the weakest who is going to bear the full brunt of any inflation and suffering. How are you going to explain to the poor in the rural area who has not benefited anything all these while and now asked to continue to tighten their belt further more?

    All these sufferings and hardships would have been avoided had the gov. been fair, efficient and not corrupted and the country will be much richer maybe like, say , S,pore, to absorb the increase. Instead, you have wasted all the country resources and money on wasteful mega project benefiting only to your group and the nep which not only fail to produce truly qualified person but at the same time driving away all the smart people who could help the country to develop.

    There will be a lot of disenchanted people all across the country and PR should take this opportunity to meet and wake up the poor that they must vote to change the corrupt gov stop any further mismanagement of the country for their sake and also for the sake of their children’s children.

  179. That’s what I suspect Godfather. I was still in business in 2006 when the oil price increased, it was still ok in the first two months but by the third months, the chain reaction started, business cost gone up, and sales dwindled as customers tighten their belts. Well, in view of the uncertainties, I closed shop.

  180. /// Why dont you address this concern of yours to YAB Perdana Menteri, to continue the extravagant lifestyle , until the oil run out, and than the prime minister and his ministers and executives will ride a bike? ///

    Dear Adam, no thank you. If you have been following what I said, I am quite happy about reducing the subsidy. In fact, I think they should mark it to market at one go and make it RM4 to RM5 a litre, insteading of prolonging the pain.

    PM has already addressed my concerns – the running out of oil – and I am happy with the new policy. Maybe you or rainbowseahorse should approach the PM with your concerns?

    ;)

  181. The BN government has a plan, it is call plan A and that’s it. If Plan A didn’t work out so well, there will be another Plan A. I learned about this in a hard way. Well, now I know Plan A is about how much BN government can rob from the Rakyat in broad day light.

  182. I have to agree with TheWrathOfGrapes, the main issue is that subsidies are never and can never be never-ending.

    But unfortunately, the problem is that the Msian government was and will continue to be short-sighted and unable to prepare the economy for the eventuality that these subsidies will be reduced and finally removed.

    Ironically, the government is doing totally the opposite. It is continually making the life of the people harder and more dependent on the oil subsidies. Instead of investing and improving the public transport, it took measures that totally screwed up the public transport system. The worst action taken would be the latest measure of increasing diesel price by 60% and then prohibiting the bus companies and transport companies to not increase their fares because it would burden the rakyat !!! Ehh !!! Hello it is the government job of protecting the interests of the rakyat not the bus companies. This is absolutely irresponsible behavior on behalf of the government !!!

    The Msian coffers are dry of funds. The problem has taken root over decades of misguided policies and bad governance that it is impossible to avoid the bad effects now.

    The question is : Are we angry and unhappy because of the rising fuel prices and living costs ? Are we demonstrating our unhappiness and disenchantments thinking it would make things go back to its original state ?

    OR are we unhappy because the government has failed to prepare us and taken the correct measures to handle the fundamental problems in our economy ?

    If you are hoping things can go back to what it was, then you are dreaming and basically an ignorant fool. The illness is too seriously terminal and even if our economy recovers it would no longer be the same. Similar to a seriously ill patient, if he/she sought medical help early it could be cured, but when it reached the terminal stage even after recovering, the body is ravaged and no longer functions the same.

    So demonstrate and force changes to put people with the right heart and the right mind into our government. Otherwise, our next generations would be the ones to suffer similar to we suffering the result of the ignorance and indignation of our elders.

  183. dear dawsheng.

    Sorry to note that you have closed shop. but i feel more sorry that you believe what bn told you and will tell you.

    The Pm said – parliament will not be dissolved – 24 hours different story.
    The Dpm said – announcement on friday on the structure of petrol price hike in august – 5 pm friday- price of fuel shocking increase.

  186. Why do I see government vehicles are having wife and children in it at 8 and 9pm on the street? Anyone can put a stop to it for these kind of practise of using our tax-payer money driving big jeep and expensive diesel?

  188. WrathOfGrapes, first and foremost, Sri Lanka is not an oil exporting country like Malaysia and so no comparison. Malaysian GDP USD14,000 per capital??? Only a nut would believe that figure! It’s more like USD2,200.
    Oil subsidy is not good for any country, but when its raised 40 to 63% overnight without proportionate increment in salaries, coupled with over 40% increased in basic food like rice, and top that up with immediate announcement of hike in electricity by almost 20% in less than two months time, then our Malaysian government must be NUTS too!
    Now with these hikes in prices, that will have very significant cost impact on just about everything in Malaysia. So, how is a family man with just USD185.75 per month going to feed, cloth, schooling for the children, transportation for himself and his children, house rental (if any), and all the other basic needs?
    Eliminate subsidies by all means, but at a more moderate and HUMAN manner!

  189. Indonesia is currently net importer but their petrol price is cheaper than this country.

    Yes, we are going to be net importer 5 yrs down the road. Cant those cronies increase the price stage by stage and survey the market response and inflation. Imagine if Federal Reserve in US simply increase overnite interest rate by even 1% all the stock market in the world will feel the impact.

    40-60% sudden increase and more to come. Few days before the great Najib scrapping the subsidies for public transport. Not forgetting the other great Tee Kiat imposed mandatory seat belt for rear passengers. How abt those family with four kids, single bread winner? How to buckle up? How to fock out another few hundred bucks for fuel increase?

    Najib: Adjust your lifestyle and go eat sand!

    These cronies really pushing rakyat to the wall at one go.

    Hope these fellow get kick out ASAP before further damage done to country economy!

  191. /// rainbowseahorse Says:
    Today at 13: 02.41 (1 hour ago)
    WrathOfGrapes, first and foremost, Sri Lanka is not an oil exporting country like Malaysia and so no comparison. Malaysian GDP USD14,000 per capital??? Only a nut would believe that figure! It’s more like USD2,200. ///

    rainbowseahorse – please read my entry in its entirety – then maybe you can see where I am coming from. The US and the UK are oil producing countries as well. Malaysian per capita GDP is not US$14,000 but higher at US$14,400 – sorry my mistake. It is on a PPP basis – go and find out the meaning of purchasing power parity – it is very important concept. Otherwise we cannot discuss how many ringgits you need to buy a McDonald hamburger.

  192. Bobster, if the US government DARE to force that type of increses on their people, I think their Presedent would have been dragged out and hung on the nearest tree.
    Indians carried out mass protest for a mere 11% INCREASE IN FUEL. And what do we Malaysians are expected to do?? Leave it to the DAP and perhaps the PKR!
    Very pro-active!

  194. What I see is whether this PM wrongly advised from some group that plotting his down fall or he is planning to hang himself soon.

    Just like to see what the general public esp our bumi friends who are struggling to make ends meet say and will do in a few weeks time.

    What can chinese minority do except dropping a pin into the ocean?

    Hope the whole country wake up now and acknowledge the fact that it is time to change the whole administration after blunders upon blunders. Enough is Enough!

  195. TheWrathOfGrapes is right about the un-wisdom of reliance on petrol/diesel subsidies and how much of it is attributable to the unilateral wet dream of one man – only on standalone basis of looking at it from economics point of view.

    However, the main grouses now is that the cutting down of petrol/diesel subsidies issue is interconnected with other issues: first the pace of withdrawal, whether the reliance on it should be weaned away gradually or drastically, as is now, with all its attendant effects on spiraling inflation; second whether it is fair to rakyat when they do not have reliable and affordable public transportation in place; and third, the questionable priorities with which the government otherwise allocates and appropriates resources (a substantial part from dividends or tax from Petronas greater earnings due to high crude oil prices) without transparency and accountability – indeed with many questions surrounding them. Yes subsidies are generally wasteful and car users are spoilt but what high moral ground does one stand on in suddenly withdrawing pre-existing benefit of subsidies from car users – causing cost push inflation across the board – when one continues in wasteful expenditure in subsidizing of other questionable projects and other bailouts neither beneficial nor equitable, if not down right detrimental to rakyat, PKFZ RM 4.6 billion scandal for example ???

    It is the inter-connectivity of petrol/diesel subsidies issue from other issues related to lack of accountability and transparency and other wastage from other forms of subsidies given that benefit the elites and cronies that make evaluation of petrol/diesel subsidies issue on a standalone basis (like picking on strand from the interconnected strands making the entire fabric) objectively difficult and questionably useful!

    Even if one compares with other countries and says our car users are spoilt and have hitherto enjoyed very cheap petrol, one has, when comparing, to compare also the cost of driving per head – taking into consideration road tax, custom excise duties, toll charges – relative to his income and purchasing power.

    Citing Sri Lankans as an example – that their average income is not even one third of Malaysians, but they are paying almost double the price for petrol – is not altogether helpful to appease angry Malaysians when it is recollected that Sri Lankan government’s coffers are depleted by decades of civil war and strife with Tamil Tiger Separatist, and, unlike ours, not replenished by taxes and dividends from Petronas’s bumper profits from high crude oil prices.

  196. When the fuel increase was announced followed by electricity hikes in July, it just struck me that Bodohwi must be really2 stupid to do that closed on the heels of increases in rice and other items. On top of that, he must know that he is no longer popular with the rakyat. So why doies he do what he did??

    He held fast after being suggested and then asked to step down as PM. So, with so many of his people standing impatiently for him to step down, the process was hasten by giving him bad advises so that people’s power will topple him.

  197. Why don’t UMNO group of companies (PETRONAS) go and smuggle out fuel oil from, say, Nigeria at RM0.32/litre or Turkmenistan at RM0.25/litre, or better still Venezuela at a mere RM0.16/litre and ship back the fuel to Malaysia at a huge profit? Overnight, Bodohwi & company will be off the hook over the fuel subsidies issue. Then UMNO inc. can keep all that PETRONAS profits quietly for themselves.

  198. Jeff – agree with you. The issue is not really about subsidy. The subsidy must go, sooner or later, and I suggest the sooner the better. Drop dead date – 2012. The real issue is whether one can trust the government with the savings from the subsidy and whether they will be put to good use.

    There are just too much nonsense written by so many who haven’t a clue about supply and demand. Many are whacking the government for other reasons (deservedly so), but this removal of subsidy should not be a flogging horse.

    As expected, the only politician who made sense in this issue is Tony Pua, who happened to be an economist. I suggest everyone go and read what he has to say. Even so, there is someone who wrote on Tony’s blog asking him to be careful about what he wrote. Apparently, opposition must blindly hantam the government, no matter what.

  199. WrathOfGrapes, agreed that subsidies is VERY VERY bad for any government. Better to have none at all and let market forces dictat pricings. But once you start subsidies and wants to reduce these subsidies, reduce gradually and not at a rate which over takes raise in salaries.
    Also, without transparant accounts of PETRONAS, how the hell do we know what the government is doing with all these huge profits??

  200. Come to think of it: What happened to that Bodohwi’s election promise to erradicate corruption??
    Hmmmm…. maybe this increase in fuel & basic food items is his round about way to tackle that problem!

  201. If the price of petrol is to be determined using the market forces, which in this case the price has gone up due to the higher oil price, will the government DECREASE the petrol price WHEN the oil price FALLS?
    Will the government actually let the price of petrol to be REALLY determined by the market forces if the price of oil falls?

    If that is the case, then should the goverment also remove the protection surrounding our local cars as such protection also distorts the price of imported cars?

    With the money saved, please use it to upgrade the public transport! LRT and monorails or its equivalent is the best mode of transportation, in my opinion.

  202. Like I said in an earlier posting, the price hike may be – just may be – tolerable if there is an equivalent show of austerity by the BN government. They keep mum over issues like the use of private jets, shopping sprees by ministers’ wives, unncessary or non-urgent projects like the new palace, and new defence equipment.

    Why say that we are unwinding the subsidy system when we are also unwilling to unwind the crony system that sucks the rakyat’s money ? Can we reduce tolls ? Can we eliminate stupid concessions like medicine holograms, cigarette holograms, liquor holograms ?

  203. Having got the petrol subsidy monies, many half past six projects and many white elephants will mushroom all over the countries. Previously, the monies came from the stock market. The stock market is neither dead nor alive. Therefore, the monies have to come from these contracts. Guess who will get all these contracts? This is the practice for more than 20 years. You expect any change? This is the risk he has to take.

  204. As expected all local bankers are fully owned or substantial controlled, by wannabe bankers , u can see this happening from UMBC.

    So how grand it is , all under controlled , wel under the counter controlled.
    Even debt management becomes a lucrative business , only in bolihland, we have the expereinced

    So price increase , policy makers decision makers , who the hell are these people taking us to hooolland,
    If you cant afford , then run your live prudently lah, it is not the policies made it is you to blame , u selected and give them the mandate of doom.

    What is the worth of our ringgit . I would like to ask?

    Fuel cost is the primer, the avalanche has started….stop the rot …demand show cause letters now ..

  206. Can somebody please explain to me how the government came out with their figures? According to the government the fuel subsidy would cost us RM56 billion this year. By increasing the price of fuel by RM0.78, they would save RM14 billion in subsidies. The same government also said that the price of fuel is now only RM0.30 below the market rate.

    Increase by RM0.78 (RM1.92 –> RM2.70)
    *******************************
    Subsidy Before Savings = RM56 billion
    Savings = RM14 billion
    Subsidy After Savings = RM42 billion

    Now comes the magic confusing part!!

    Increase by RM0.30 (RM2.70 –< RM3.00 [market price])
    ******************************************
    Subsidy Before Savings = RM42 billion
    Savings = RM42 billion ?????!?!?!
    Subsidy After Savings = RM0.00 (since there is no more subsidy aka fuel at market price).

    I can’t understand how increasing by RM0.78 saves us RM14 billion, then increase by another RM0.30 saves us RM42 billion? The maths just ain’t right..can anybody offer an explanation?

  207. Getting rid of the subsidy system is a wise thing to do. In fact, it should be done decades ago. The subsidy system is one of the many things that have been mismanaged by the incompetent BN government for the past 3-4 decades.

    Malaysia is blessed with many natural resources. For the past 50 years and with the current high prices of petroleum, natural resources such as palm oil, rubber, tin, aquaculture, forestry products, etc, Malaysia’s coffer should be brimming with money.

    The money could have been used to build highways, schools for every race, reduce tariffs on cars including national cars, reduce prices of utilities, road taxes, personal income taxes, food, school fees, etc.

    In a well managed economy like this, there is no need for subsidy.

    But instead of using the nation’s coffer to build and provide roads, highways, schools, reduce car tariffs, cheap electricity, cheap food, school fees, etc, the BN government splurged on wastages and non-prioritised projects. Lopsided contracts were given to cronies to squeeze the citizens even more.

    That’s why the subsidy system came into being – to relieve the financial burden of the citizens. The subsidy system in Malaysia exists only because of the deeply entrenched crony system – it goes hand in hand!

    If the BN government want to get rid of the subsidy system of oil it must also get rid of the crony system. It cannot just get rid of the subsidy system but retain the blood sucking crony system with escalating prices on toll (toll concessionaires), electricity (TNB), water (Syabas), telephone (Telekom), rice & flour (Bernas), Astro, excise duties on cars (Proton).

    It is not only wrong but it is a double whammy on the citizens! The citizens have to pay high prices for oil and for daily basic necessities for tolls, electricity, communication, entertainment and foodstuffs.

    It’s like throwing the citizens to the wolves!

    Look at the obscene amount of profits made year after year by these toll concessionaires, TNB, Water Authorities, Telekom, Astro, Bernas, Proton, etc, by milking the citizens who have no choice but to use the services of these monopolistic or oligopolistic companies!

    The subsidy was there in the first place to protect the poor citizens because of the secretive, lopsided agreements signed by the corrupt BN government with their cronies.

    Now, the subsidy which is the only protection left for the citizens is removed without dismantling the blood sucking crony system by reducing the prices of tolls, electricity, water, foodstuffs, cars, etc, is it not the BN government is abandoning the citizens to be eaten by wolves?

  208. goldenscreen
    Increase by RM0.78 (RM1.92 –> RM2.70)
    *******************************
    Subsidy Before Savings = RM56 billion
    Savings = RM14 billion
    Subsidy After Savings = RM42 billion

    Now comes the magic confusing part!!

    Increase by RM0.30 (RM2.70 –< RM3.00 [market price])
    ******************************************
    Subsidy Before Savings = RM42 billion
    Savings = RM42 billion ?????!?!?!
    Subsidy After Savings = RM0.00 (since there is no more subsidy aka fuel at market price).

    ————————————————————-

    AAB failed stats, he can’t do math. Anything complicated will cause his tiny brain to go in to a fit and shut down zzzzzzzz. He has been caught sleeping on the job…..guess what was he doing during lectures? AAB doesn’t have much room for a big brain when it is located on the other head. :0)

  209. what a stupid idea to give rebate base on the cc of a car.IDIOT!!!
    a old volvo with more then 2000cc may cost only rm 20000.
    a new toyota altis cost more then rm 100,000.tell me which car between this two belongs to a rich guy??really a IDIOT!!! now i believe people said if you want to know the differences of our PM n his bunch of “boleh” minister to “Singa” island minister, you just look at where they graduated from n compare with the “singa” island Minister.

  210. a friend of mine is a surgeon in a goverment hospital.with his monthly salary around rm 5-6k ,he got 3 childrens and his wife is a housewive. with the increase of fuel price and the chain reactions cause by it,he is going to private or migrate to singapore. he just summit his resignation today,even a guy with this monthly income is affecting by this. just think what happen to those low income people.hopeless P-A-K…..get your f#*& ing @ss out of the PUKIJAYA.b4 a giant tsunami send you out of the boleh land!!!

  211. anyway ppl, crude oil just reached USD 134 again up more than 5% today, guess it won’t be long before the PM will be using his favourite phrase “change your lifestlye” again.

    With crude oil at that rate, petrol is at about 3.50 per litre, with the 30 cents that Government promise, we in for another price hike possibly within the 2months period. Soon we will all be turning back 30years in time and all will be cycling to work.

  212. Since when did Cabinet need the permission of any one or entity to make decisions? As far as I know they do whatever they fancy, and care not for the people but their own.

    Interestingly we have a government who despite freely and irresponsibly sending tax dollars tells its people to change their already obscure lifestyle, pushing its very people to the brink of collapse. I wonder, in the 4 hours of ‘brainstorming’ did they ever once consider the chain of events that will see the increase in cost for a majority of goods and services? Or was the decision made on a toss of a coin?

    Interestingly, ministers are allocated allowances for petrol and various cost of living needs. Ministers are the servants of the nation, instead I would think these very servants should be stripped of these expense allowances as they have not earned their keep by simply mismanaging resources and tax monies collected. I think the country should be run like a corporation and the executives receive their bonuses if they perform and not otherwise. So, PM can please explain yourself?

    The people of Malaysia ask not for subsidies, however we ask for the Government to not waste resources like they frequently do. Time for the Government of Malaysia to tighten up their belts and change their lifestyle!

  213. 9to5 per posting Yesterday at 23: 17.40 says it right – the subsidy is the morphine for the cancer of a corrupt feudal political culture : here the painkiller has been taken away, and debate has focused on the inherit merits or demerits of morphine as a palliative or pancea of ills – without debate as to how the cancer is being treated – or that it may be treatable – this is folly!

    There should be an incisive surgery to remove the tumour if the patient, Malaysia, is to have any chance.

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  219. Can’t we rakyat take our problem with our present government to the Agong?
    I mean, he being the protector of us rakyat and we having to respect him and all the other Sultans, TYT, etc; Does the Agong have any power AT ALL to help us Rakyat get rid of a corrupted government?

  220. I would like to CONGRATULATE all those who brilliantly voted for BN and that now you all got the biggest gift from BN WHICH is Inflation. Even their leaders is kind hearted and SINCERELY give tips to you all to change your lifestyle and backward it so you can be happier. WHAT A BULLSHIT…

  221. Hendric1421, I think it should be “…the biggest gift from BN WHICH is making every Malaysians, regardless of race, multi-millionairs and billionairs…Just like the Indonesians!”

  222. ((NG Says:
    Yesterday at 00: 20.24

    a friend of mine is a surgeon in a goverment hospital.with his monthly salary around rm 5-6k ,he got 3 childrens and his wife is a housewive. with the increase of fuel price and the chain reactions cause by it,he is going to private or migrate to singapore. he just summit his resignation today,even a guy with this monthly income is affecting by this))

    now lets look at fate the group of people which the government had denied the request for minimum salary of RM1,000 recently.

    BEFORE FUEL INCREASE…..
    2 MEALS A DAY, NO TV, NO ELECTRICITY

    AFTER FUEL PRICE INCREASE……..
    1 MEAL IN 3 DAYS
    (PLAIN RICE WITH SomE VEGETABLES -CAN’T afford meat and fish)

  223. There is more than one issue here. Local and global. What if we now have a new government ? Can we solve the oil price problem? We all know the crude price is still going up, and up. Do we know who dictates, or manipulates the crude oil price? We have been very fast in protesting against the Denmark government for the cartoons. We have also in the past, demonstrated against the US, and even called for boycotts of US products. Malaysians certainly have another battle to fight. Check the oil price trend at http://www.wtrg.com/prices.htm

  224. The rebate system is a joke & insult to our intelligence. It is a simple & kids-play system. How do we know if the rebate do not go to the same person multiplied times?

    RM 625 can only buy 231 ltr petrol (or under 4 full tank for 60 ltr tank) & 242 ltr diesel (or around 3 full tank for 80 ltr tank).

    Furthermore, what is RM 625 to someone driving new BMW 320-series. For someone who owns 10x BMW 320-Series, will get RM 6250 rebate.

    As for motorbikes, the RM 150 rebate (approx. 55 ltr of fuel) will probably last them 2-3 months just to get to & fro work.

    The rebate system should be incorported into the personal or corporate income tax. This is so that the person who owns 10x BMW 320 do not get RM 6250 rebate & the poor guy who owns 1 kap-chai gets a better rebate than just RM 150/year. Even 10x kap chai only RM 1500, 4x less compared to RM 6250. The type of vehicle owned must be declared in the income tax form.

    We all know well who pays tax & who doesn’t !!! So, why do those who own 10x BMW 320s & don’t pay tax, get away with rebate or fuel-subsidy??? Just a an idea to explore. The current system is ridiculous & still open to smuggling of precious resource being sold illegally.

  225. pjboy, I know and agree that giving out rebates via road tax renewal which can be exploited by wealthy individuals. But as pointed out somewhere, giving rebates based on income tax will not help those in the lower income group as most of them do not even have income tax return form.

    I think however the government tries to give back some form of rebates to the lower income, the system will be subjected to abuses in one form or another.

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