Malaysians are resilient, yes, but running out of patience. | Malaysian Sentinel : Malaysia's Politics from a Malaysian Citizen Blogger


Monday, June 9, 2008

Malaysians are resilient, yes, but running out of patience.

Pak Lah has called for the rakyat to be resilient and weather the fuel hike, Malaysiakini reported this in the article: PM: Understand reasons for fuel hike. Yes, we understand. The global oil price per barrel is expected to reach USD150 (yesterday it stood at USD138) sometime this before the year end. With the idea that the fuel price would be reviewed on a monthly basis, then be prepared for a change every month or so. Which direction the price change would take, we all can infer. It'll most likely go north. Plain logic, oil price goes up, subsidy goes up; to lower subsidy then hike fuel price. So expect the price to go higher than the current RM2.70.

Even fellow BN component parties are condemning the hike, as reported by Malaysiakini:

Presiden Parti Maju Sabah (Sapp), Datuk Yong Teck Lee mengecam tindakan kerajaan menaikkan secara mendadak harga minyak seperti diumumkan kelmarin.

Sapp, sebuah parti komponen BN, memberi amaran kepada perdana menteri tentang ketegangan besar BN, manakala Pemudanya mendesak Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dan kabinetnya meletakkan jawatan.

Yong, bekas ketua menteri, berkata keputusan kerajaan yang terburu-buru meningkatkan harga minyak boleh memburukkan lagi masalah yang dihadapi BN.

Beliau juga mempertikaikan perdana menteri sama ada beliau sudah mengkaji segala akibat kenaikan harga minyak.

“Jika kerajaan hilang kepercayaan rakyat, maka ia lebih payah untuk mentadbir,” katanya.

Source: Malaysiakini



Yes, this hike is not a decision by just the PM but by the ruling BN. Since they swore unwavering support to Pak Lah then surely all decisions made by Pak Lah has the consensus of the BN parties. But from SAPP's response, it seems they were not consulted on the move; if not why are they so up in arms because of it? Or is this a precursor to the fact for the Sabah band-of-jumpers to jump ship to Pakatan Rakyat?

Yes, Malaysians are resilient, we have allowed this Pak Lah BN government ruling rights since 2004. We cut it down in the 12th GE because of their inability to follow through with their promises. And if all things go well, by September 16; they could be replace. Yes, resilient but our patience is running out. We may have endured another 5 years under Pak Lah but with the hike (talk about bad timing), he may not last pass September.

I think the hike would be acceptable if subsidies would instead be shifted to other items such as foodstuff. Meaning, the price of fuel may be high but the cost of food so low, our living cost balance out the fuel price. Like the higher the fuel hike, the cheaper the cost for a meal. This way people would still be able to put food on their tables. The poor can afford to eat. As of the moment the so-called rebates only benefit vehicle owners but the non-vehicle owners still feel the pinch from the escalating price of food and essential items. So regardless of the rebates, we all still suffer. The rebates do nothing at all except lower the cost of road-tax.

We not only need a government that is caring, we also need one that is smart enough to put the welfare of the rakyat first instead of their own pockets.

1 comments:

Jim Evans said...

The Domino Effect of Rising Oil Prices!

The rise of oil will not be an isolated event.

Petrol prices are closely tied to the fabric of society. This will trigger a domino effect of the increase of the cost of almost every basic and non-basic commodity you can think of.

Businessmen will have no choice but to pass on the cost to the consumer. The government can try to impose a control on these prices but it is inevitable the prices will eventually creep up.

Anything you name can go up. Flour, noodles, bread, rice, water, electricity, transportation, public services, education, internet access. Literally the cost of living will go up in Malaysia!

DRASTIC CIRCUMSTANCES NEED INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS. Everyone must find ways and means to get more income while helping each other and the government keep Malaysia an economic powerhouse in Asia.

Review and reallocate your budgets! Invest in your future and you will
find a way out.

Yours,

Waywalker
http://www.savepetrolfast.com

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