Dear Teresa,
Congratulations on Pakatan’s success in the recent general election. I hope my vote counted!
I’m writing to you about the recent increase in petrol price because I do not know who else to approach (i’ve written to The Star but surprise surprise, they’ve not published my article). The debate is an old one, and reading online comments posted by Malaysians has got me thinking. Whilst the increase is affecting me and my family as well, there are more pressing issues worth considering apart from worrying about a higher price for my daily char kwey teow.
Firstly, comparing our petrol prices to oil producing nations is not prudent. We do not have huge supplies like Saudi Arabia or Venezuela, and the contribution of oil to our GDP is minuscule compared to these oil giants. We area also quickly running out of oil reserves. We can continue to milk Petronas until the oil runs out, then what? We will no longer have Petronas to bulk up our subsidies, and inevitably petrol prices will have to rise. I feel the rise is better now than later.
Secondly a low petrol price encourages smuggling and wastage. There will be ways to cheat the system; rightly so because the lure of money is tempting. Wastage is also high on the agenda – many of us don’t even think about how much greenhouse gas we pump out into the atmosphere. Hopefully with this price increase, the rakyat will be more prudent in managing petrol use. We have also developed the subsidy mentality through years of BN rule, so wouldn’t it be an opportunity to start nurturing a mind free of government handouts? We need to become independent.
Already our nation is plagued with the mindset that you cannot leave the house without your beloved car. This is poisonous, as we are moving towards the American model of full car dependency. Already America is struggling to keep up with its debt as it continues to import more oil to satisfy its growing car-hungry population – Malaysia needs to plan ahead to avoid this. Shift the focus to public transportation, covered walkways, congestion charges, higher road taxes, higher parking fees, more buses and an integrated public transport system instead of encouraging the rakyat to go back to driving their Protons. Squeeze cars out of the city and bring back pedestrians, after all weren’t cities built for people not cars? Developed nations are already doing this – Australia, UK, Japan, Singapore all have in place a good mass transit system which reduces the reliance on driving. This will help combat further petrol prices in the long run.
But the double whammy is when such measures are implemented our cities become greener, free of cars and free of pollution. We should complain that there are no other alternatives to driving rather than complaining about petrol prices. Campaigning for lower petrol prices is not the way to go (even though it is politically convenient); we do not need to repeat the mistakes of other nations which have become addicted to oil.
Cheers,
<deleted>
A student and an ardent supporter of Bangsa Malaysia
Well said. The subsidy has to go. However, the problem now is not about whether we should still continue to subsidy for petrol, etc.
It was the sudden removal of subsidy that hurt the people so much. Without any warnings. In fact, it was promised the prices wouldn’t go up so quick. So, most people aren’t ready for it yet.
It should have been phased out gradually rather a sudden cut. Government should stop subsidizing petrol and other items sooner or later. How they do it will be the key.
As we know our oil resources are quite limited, all the profit should go to a trust fund or something to prepare for the future. Also, the right investment.
We have no other choice if we want Malaysia to be competitive again. Please don’t spoil the people of Malaysia anymore! Otherwise, we all become less competitive or as some ministers might say: “ungrateful people”
Why didn’t the government foresee that the provision of subsidies in petrol, fuel and food, and cheap services would one day run into huge problems for the people and country? The fear of losing control of government has forced the BN to pamper the people and in the process ignore the huge financial burden the government has to shoulder, the necessity for the people to adapt to the ups and downs of the global economy, the fact that the country not having economies of scale when developing the car industry. It clearly shows that in subsidizing petrol, fuels and food, services,etc, the government has been doing the thing right instead of the right thing. I am all for gradually ending the subsidy not only for petrol but all other items so that the people start learning to be thrifty and not live beyond their means.
Hi,
I don’t want to re-type again my comment, please have a look at http://jedyoong.com/?p=239 although there are typo.
But, don’t get me wrong, my stand is the the removal of subsidies has to be conditional and the very first condition is we, the people do not suffer.
Thanks,
EK
“Shift the focus to public transportation, covered walkways, congestion charges, higher road taxes, higher parking fees, more buses and an integrated public transport system instead of encouraging the rakyat to go back to driving their Protons.” – Reader’ thought
I’m sure that you know that our transport is a shambles – if you have used them, you’ll know what it is.
Covered walkways, I understand had been years in the planning, if not decades. It is still in the air.
Our parking fees are high enough as it is. In Kuala Lumpur, a new electronic system similar to those in Petaling Jaya has been installed.
The starting rate is 80sen when previously it can be as low as 10sen.
Intregrated transport as far as this country is concerned is a joke. Each company is having its own system.
Also, our country has plenty of natural resources IN ADDITION TO CRUDE OIL.
We should be well of, in not very well off! But are we?
Instead, after fifty years of BN rule, we are fast becoming a basket case!
If you don’t realise it, in spite of our bountiful resources, the citizens are paying through the nose for everything! Even our Proton cars!
I understand that this car, with features that’ll satisfy the Europeans (with additional safety features) sells for a few thousand ringgit cheaper than in this country!
The citizens are also very angry that the BN government just refuses to account for the way privatisation is implemented. Everything is under the cloak of the OSA! There is not accountability!
Getting a student to write in support of fuel price increase is rather naive. If he has a car, his parent will be paying for his fuel. What the F**** he cares about expenditure. Sorry for the vulgarity though. Saw ur picture in a demo in pasar road. AAB by raising the fuel price is using his own rope to hang himself. Never in the history of Malaysia do we have a dumb and dumberer PM such as the present one. Petronas is speculated to report a profit b4 tax of at least between 100 to 140 billion ringgit for the year ended 31/3/2008. In 1997-2002, Petronas rescued UMNO cronies financially to the tune of at least 50 billion ringgit and is this right? Now, to sustain, the living standard of at least all Malaysian with 56 billion ringgit of oil subsidy is not right? A corrupt government only will not see what is equitible as right. The fact is a corrupt government is duty bound to subsidise the fuel price of the rakyat.
YB Teresa
Rasanya tidak terlewat saya ucapkan tahniah atas kemenangan sdri bagi MP Seputeh dan ADUN Kinrara dan calun yang memenangi majoriti tertinggidi parlimen.
Saya ingin menyentuh mengenai rebate minyak yang diberi kepada tuanpunya kenderaan sebanyak RM625 dan RM150 bagi motosikal yang dipertanggungjawabkan kepada Pos Malaysia yang mana ECM Libra mempunyai kepentingan. Maklumat tersebut ada saya terbaca dalam blog http://jebatmustdie.wordpress dan juga blog TDM. Selain daripada itu penglibatan Scomi dalam perkhidmatan pengangkutan RAPIDKL. Kedua-dua syarikat ini saya difahamkan adalah kroni Pak Lah. Ini adalah sebahagian yang saya ketahui kemungkinan banyak lagi seperti monorel PP dan lain-lain lag
Saya penuh yakin YB boleh mendapat maklumat lanjut dan kemukakan dalam persidangan parlimen.
Begitu juga YB dapat bertanyakan kepada YB Menteri Kewangan jumlah projek dan syarikat yang ditawarkan secara rundingan terus.
Selamat bertugas.
Hi Ms Kok, Why can’t the authority get all transportation in place first b4 raising the petrol prices? It is really causing havoc on our finances,as it is we are earning pittance. Pls push “them” to work faster on the LRT/Monorail/KTM Kommuter systems. No more procrastination pls. You know right, bus/train/ taxi services all messed up. 2012 is too slow(by that time my aunty already retired lah). My aunty stays in Puchong. TQ
“Secondly a low petrol price encourages smuggling and wastage”
What ever price of a commodity will have certain degree of smuggling. Higher price will even attract higher chance of smuggling…….. If you think wastage happen because of LOW PRICE, you are too naive.
The present scenario is governed by a simple story on Petronas and the Rakyat. The current situation resembling a very wealthy father ( PROSPEROUS AND PROGRESSING VERY WELL) telling his kids and his wife that they have to tighten their belt….Instead of staying in a bungalow, they have to move to an ordinary single storey terrace house. AND ELSEWHERE THE FATHER LIVE LAVISHLY, HAVING MAY BE FEW MISTRESSES……….
Why can’t Petronas prove its “innocense” by opening up its detailed account to the Rakyat ?????????
hi people,
it is indeed trying times. Petrol wastage is a no no. But so is petrol/fuel smuggling. For that matter electricity n water wastage etc are also taboo. Waste not want not. For too long many of us in single occupant cars have jammed up roads , parked waiting with full aircond n engines on.Bad stewardship really.
Yes , the governmnet is guilty of rearing us in a fuel subsidy mentality but we rakyat had also been guilty of wastage.
Both must change but more so at the government level of URGENTLY REVAMPING the PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM which must be efficient, on time and safe.
As for the big debate on SUBSIDY , the big question is whether the govt had actually subsidized us rakyat or is it more a question of opportunity loss of not selling these quantities consumed otherwise exported ?
One is subsidising only if the cost to produce petrol and gas had gone up irrelevant of the price sold .
As illustration,
Assume that country UTOPIA’s manifesto to sell her citizens/( n Thye n Indom n Spor VISITORS / SMUGGLERS )daily some 50 million litres at cost bcos of subsidy,while exporting say 20 million litres i.e.
a) Assume cost to produce per barrel, say usd 20 ,
if sold at usd 60 per barrel internationally ,meant profit of usd40 as UTOPIA profit if exported.
Asuume a litre at pump retails at usd 0.60 ( because assume production cost = usd 0.6 similarly ), Citizen pays usd 0.6, thaknks to govt.
b) If cost remained at usd 20 , but suddenly oil price touches usd100 international mkt , meant profit of usd 80 to UTOPIA if exported, the cost is still usd 20 and this is where the citizens should be paying.
Hmm, UTOPIA’s govt did not pay extra cost to produce , so how can it claim it is subsidizing her citizens on her consumption of 50 miilion ltires at the pump?
UTOPIA still makes a profit on the export of 20 miilion litres at increased profit of usd 80 per barrel.
INDEED UTOPIA forgo its opportunity to sell the 50 million litres(self consumed /smuggled) at profit of usd80 per barrel.
It never subsidise one nickel extra to the home consumers – because they should be charged usd 0.60 as before since no cost increase, irrelevant of your selling price internationally(benefit oil exporter only)
NO cost increase, no subsidy so WHY INCREASE ???
Increase is not justified because there is no subsidy in the first place but
I am for the increase only bcos we stop the smuggling into neighbouring countries.
INCREASE the pump price but please be honest to compensate back the poor (not rich ) RAKYAT and not the foreigners who smuggle our precious resources.
Let us rakyat change our lifestyle to be good stewards while the authorities do not fleece the poor of malays, indian, chinese and lain2 race of this our beloved malaysia as they r suffering.
HIDUP MALAYSIA. Agape.
Never Pump Full tank because
1. you carry the fuel around
2. When full some fuel return through safety valve…
read here
http://shiokguy.blogspot.com/2008/06/do-not-pump-full-tank-of-petrol.html
Shiok Guy
I’m just wondering why Guan Eng doesn’t have a blog? In any case, this would be a good an avenue as any to reach him (I guess).
After reading the paper today where it was reported that LGE continued his relentless attack on PETRONAS, I am starting to wonder whether the PR MPs are really starting to milk this petrol issue for their political mileage instead of having the nation’s wellbeing and it’s future in mind?
I came upon this discussion in http://humblevoice.blogspot.com/2008/06/mystery-of-our-vanising-oil-money.html where LGE is asked to be answerable for his questions and not just simply bring up issues to play to the gallery (..big shots living like kings with private jets…) when referring to PETRONAS Executives.
Don’t get me wrong, I agree that he means well but the questions must be focussed on the real issues ie. Where did all of the profits contributed by PETRONAS go to? NOT Where did PETRONAS profits go to? I am sure most of the PR MPs have been in Parliament long enough and closer to the BN MPs than me to know the distinction between PETRONAS and the BN Government.
You don’t get into no. 120 on the Global Fortune 500 by being a pure instrument of a corrupt government. And for those who are eagerly anticipating what your politicians are going to do when they get their hands on PETRONAS, please research on what has happened to other national oil companies (PERTAMINA, PEMEX of Mexico and PDVSA of Venezuela) when the meddling political hand has ruined the very goose that lays the golden egg. We should look instead to similar better run and respected national oil companies (CNOC, PETROBRAS and Gazprom) as peers to PETRONAS. Just be grateful that those greedy BN cronies have not been able to get their filthy hands on the money that they have been lusting over (which they could’ve easily gotten to – think about it).
Fighting for the Rakyat means you have to be even more responsible and accountable. Don’t let it diminish your credibility by getting carried away with sentiments.
Nevertheless, keep up the good work!