Dan lagi..dan lagi..dan lagi..
http://www.chedet.com/2008/06/snippets_13.html
Oil Price and Bus Fares
1. Every time the Government increase oil price, the bus companies would be told not to increase fares.
2. I do not like to see passengers having to pay more. But how do bus companies make profit or even survive if increases in cost are not compensated by increases in fare.
3. I can understand if the Government requests the bus companies not to increase fares too much. But there must be some increase.
4. Perhaps the Minister does not understand that businesses are not charitable organisations. If the Government cannot be charitable by absorbing the cost, why should businesses be asked to absorb the cost in order to make the Government look good.
Government to cut down cost
1. As one of the measures to reduce the effect of the increase the price of oil Government will reduce spending.
2. Since salaries and operation cost cannot be reduced, development cost would have to be curtailed.
3. When Government projects are stopped a whole lot of people will lose their income. This include the contractors, the sub-contractors, the suppliers, the transport companies and of course the workers. But even the nasi lemak sellers would lose their income and the workers would have no money to eat at the stalls.
4. Actually this was what happened when the Government decided not to go ahead with the so-called mega projects. With this idea about reducing Government spending the people who had suffered would suffer even more.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Masa Depan UMNO - Dr Mahathir - i love this post !
I was in the 3rd category..if i had started reading the 'alternative' blogs, so i called them who are not in the lot of those pengampu dolah badawi, if i had not started a little bit earlier than i did before the election..i would have opted for undi rosak.
8th March 2008, 11am, voting station Kulim - I was indecisive. both my brain and my heart did not agree for Barisan National. I didn't have the faith for then, opposition parties, and I still don't. But what i didn't know at that time was, just how much this current government under this dolah badawi (in fact the person itself) would have triggered such rebel, such anger, such dissatisfaction, hatred, curses in me beginning just a couple of months ago.
For some reason, I felt enlightened, with all the readings, those of which that have been pressuring this dolah badawi (and his yes-sir people). And this particular clown, just do not have the intelligence for a defence on the attack, let alone a decent feedback on all the logical allegations that people are throwing at this management, particularly those from Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
I'm not sure how people perceive the statement;
14. Kumpulan keempat adalah golongan muda dan yang berpelajaran termasuk ahli professional. Kebanyakan mereka ini bukan ahli UMNO dan bosan dengan UMNO. Mereka berpendapat samada UMNO tidak relevan atau UMNO adalah kumpulan pengampu yang hanya ingin mendapat sesuatu bagi diri mereka, justeru itu tidak ikhlas walaupun semasa cium tangan.
..I went to school, I earned my degree, my jobs..not me alone, but many others. Thanks to God and God grants us brains, supaya kita berfikir..it doesn't take a learned to see what is happening with the government under the leadership of this dolah badawi. The folks in the coffee shops are talking about things of the internet, the non-malays i know are losing faith in BN, tho they can't bring themselves to vote for, then, opposition parties..that should explain how the parti kunci guy won a seat somewhere in sungai petani area. A dear chinese friend of mine, did not have the heart or mind to vote for either BN or then, major opposition parties.
Then again, this is just the first year, there are 3 more years to go. As Dr Mahathir have said, the wealthiest states are not in the hands of BN. Tho' I hate Anwar and Karpal, and PAS seasoned leaders are a joke, let us see what the then, the opposition can do.
http://www.chedet.com/2008/06/masa-depan-umno.html
Thursday, June 12, 2008
MASA DEPAN UMNO
1. Pada Pilihanraya Umum 2008 sesuatu yang tidak pernah berlaku dalam Pilihanraya Umum sebelumnya telah berlaku. Sebilangan yang tidak kecil daripada ahli dan penyokong biasa UMNO telah undi parti lawan atau merosakkan undi atau tidak mengundi.
2. Hasilnya Barisan Nasional telah kalah di lima buah negeri dan satu wilayah. Di lain-lain negeri di Semenanjung kemenangan Barisan Nasional adalah tipis. Walaupun Barisan Nasional menang di peringkat pusat tetapi gagal mendapat dua pertiga daripada kerusi Dewan Rakyat seperti yang biasa dimenangi sejak merdeka oleh Perikatan dan Barisan Nasional.
3. Umum akui bahawa ada mesej yang hendak dihantar kepada Barisan Nasional dan pemimpinnya oleh pengundi. Tetapi hingga sekarang ternampak jelas bahawa pemimpin Barisan Nasional terutama Presiden UMNO dan Pengerusi Barisan Nasional, tidak dapat memahami mesej yang dihantar atau tidak tahu mentafsir mesej berkenaan.
4. Ini sudah tentu mengecewakan mereka daripada ahli UMNO terutamanya yang dengan hati yang sedih dan tangan yang menggeletar mengundi parti lawan. Tetapi kekecewaan ini tidak terhad kepada mereka sahaja. Kekalahan UMNO yang teruk telah mempengaruhi ramai orang Melayu yang lain. Dan sikap baru di kalangan orang Melayu ini akan menghakiskan lagi sokongan kepada UMNO.
5. Hari ini orang Melayu terbahagi kepada empat kelompok.
6. Yang pertama ialah mereka yang akan bersama UMNO walau apapun yang terjadi kepada UMNO atau negara. Golongan ini adalah yang terbesar dalam UMNO dan sokongan mereka menyakinkan pimpinan UMNO bahawa mereka selamat dan UMNO selamat.
7. Kumpulan kedua ialah mereka yang pada Pilihanraya Umum ke 12 telah undi parti lawan atau merosakkan undi atau tidak mengundi.
8. Kumpulan ini terkejut dengan hasil tindakan mereka. Mungkin ada yang menyesal. Tetapi lebih ramai daripada mereka yang kecewa dan semakin marah kerana “pengorbanan” mereka tidak mendatangkan hasil yang di harapkan.
9. Kumpulan ini akan berusaha menyampaikan mesej yang lebih keras. Jika tidak juga di hirau mesej mereka, sikap mereka akan diperlihatkan pada Pilihanraya Umum ke 13 dengan mengundi parti lawan terus.
10. Kumpulan ketiga ialah mereka yang telah undi parti UMNO tetapi kecewa dengan sikap pemimpin yang tidak mahu bertanggungjawab terhadap kekalahan parti, yang menafi parti kalah, yang menyalahkan orang lain, yang tidak mahu mendengar pendapat ahli, tidak membenar ahli mengkritik, tidak benar ahli dengar pendapat orang lain, yang tidak mahu membenar pindaan kepada kuota, yang larang EGM (Extraordinary General Meeting), yang sering berkata ekonomi kukuh dan baik sedangkan rakyat menderita, yang kata inflasi hanya 5% sedangkan harga minyak naik 40%, harga ayam 100%, harga beras sekali ganda dan lain-lain lagi, yang semuanya jauh lebih mahal dari 5%. Mereka bosan dengan kenyataan-kenyataan pemimpin yang mendakwa benda yang tidak benar berkali-kali.
11. Mereka ini sudah tidak lagi berminat untuk menyokong UMNO dalam pilihanraya.
12. Pemimpin UMNO tidak dapat mengenali mereka kerana mereka tidak memperdengarkan rintihan mereka dan mereka bukan ahli Jawatankuasa Cawangan atau Bahagian yang sering mencium tangan pemimpin, yang boleh di arah oleh pemimpin.
13. Seperti kumpulan yang telah undi parti lawan dalam Pilihanraya ke 12, mereka berdiam tetapi akan bertindak di Pilihanraya Umum ke 13 dengan tidak mengundi UMNO atau tidak mengundi langsung atau rosakkan undi.
14. Kumpulan keempat adalah golongan muda dan yang berpelajaran termasuk ahli professional. Kebanyakan mereka ini bukan ahli UMNO dan bosan dengan UMNO. Mereka berpendapat samada UMNO tidak relevan atau UMNO adalah kumpulan pengampu yang hanya ingin mendapat sesuatu bagi diri mereka, justeru itu tidak ikhlas walaupun semasa cium tangan.
15. Ramai mereka ini berpendapat UMNO adalah parti perkauman yang sudah tidak berguna lagi. Malaysia adalah hak semua rakyat berbilang kaum Malaysia. Justeru itu tidak mengapa jika mereka pilih parti pelbagai kaum walaupun ternampak jelas yang parti-parti ini sebenarnya diperalatkan oleh kaum tertentu.
16. Kumpulan (2), (3) dam (4) mungkin tidak sebesar kumpulan (1) jumlahnya tetapi mereka menjadi kumpulan penentu. Dalam pilihanraya kemenangan atau kekalahan di sebabkan oleh sebilangan yang kecil sahaja daripada pengundi. Jumlah pengundi mungkin besar tetapi perbezaan antara yang menang dengan yang kalah biasanya tidak sampai pun 5% daripada jumlah pengundi yang mengundi.
17. Jika jumlah kumpulan (2), (3) dan (4) hanya 5% daripada jumlah pengundi dan mereka tidak mengundi parti yang menang dahulu, parti itu akan kalah. Jika mereka memberi undi mereka kepada parti lawan, parti berkenaan tetap akan menang.
18. Dalam Pilihanraya Umum ke 12 kelebihan undi pada Barisan Nasional amat kecil peratusannya. Jika kumpulan (2), (3) dan (4) tarik keluar hanya sedikit sahaja daripada undi mereka jika mereka beri kepada parti lawan, Barisan Nasional tetap kalah.
19. Jika tidak ada usaha untuk menawan hati kumpulan (2), (3) dan (4) Barisan Nasional tetap akan kalah pada Pilihanraya Umum ke 13.
20. Pemimpin Barisan Nasional, terutama Pengerusi Barisan Nasonal, dan Presiden UMNO boleh berseronok sekarang dan bermegah-megah dengan apa yang dipercayai sebagai sokongan tidak berbelahbagi dan cium tangan ahli-ahli UMNO. Tetapi ingatlah ramalan untuk sapu bersih semua negeri dan memenangi 2/3 Parlimen Pilihanraya Umum ke 12 sebenarnya adalah khayalan, penipuan diri kerana asyik dengan sandiwara-sandiwara yang diadakan oleh mereka yang hanya ingin membodek pemimpin.
21. Ingatlah apabila UMNO tidak relevan lagi dan hancur berkecai, orang Melayu dahulu, sekarang dan yang akan datang akan kutuk mereka yang kerana kepentingan diri, kerana takut, kerana tamak telah menghancurkan UMNO yang mereka sayangi.
Posted by Dr. Mahathir Mohamad at 1:55 PM
8th March 2008, 11am, voting station Kulim - I was indecisive. both my brain and my heart did not agree for Barisan National. I didn't have the faith for then, opposition parties, and I still don't. But what i didn't know at that time was, just how much this current government under this dolah badawi (in fact the person itself) would have triggered such rebel, such anger, such dissatisfaction, hatred, curses in me beginning just a couple of months ago.
For some reason, I felt enlightened, with all the readings, those of which that have been pressuring this dolah badawi (and his yes-sir people). And this particular clown, just do not have the intelligence for a defence on the attack, let alone a decent feedback on all the logical allegations that people are throwing at this management, particularly those from Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
I'm not sure how people perceive the statement;
14. Kumpulan keempat adalah golongan muda dan yang berpelajaran termasuk ahli professional. Kebanyakan mereka ini bukan ahli UMNO dan bosan dengan UMNO. Mereka berpendapat samada UMNO tidak relevan atau UMNO adalah kumpulan pengampu yang hanya ingin mendapat sesuatu bagi diri mereka, justeru itu tidak ikhlas walaupun semasa cium tangan.
..I went to school, I earned my degree, my jobs..not me alone, but many others. Thanks to God and God grants us brains, supaya kita berfikir..it doesn't take a learned to see what is happening with the government under the leadership of this dolah badawi. The folks in the coffee shops are talking about things of the internet, the non-malays i know are losing faith in BN, tho they can't bring themselves to vote for, then, opposition parties..that should explain how the parti kunci guy won a seat somewhere in sungai petani area. A dear chinese friend of mine, did not have the heart or mind to vote for either BN or then, major opposition parties.
Then again, this is just the first year, there are 3 more years to go. As Dr Mahathir have said, the wealthiest states are not in the hands of BN. Tho' I hate Anwar and Karpal, and PAS seasoned leaders are a joke, let us see what the then, the opposition can do.
http://www.chedet.com/2008/06/masa-depan-umno.html
Thursday, June 12, 2008
MASA DEPAN UMNO
1. Pada Pilihanraya Umum 2008 sesuatu yang tidak pernah berlaku dalam Pilihanraya Umum sebelumnya telah berlaku. Sebilangan yang tidak kecil daripada ahli dan penyokong biasa UMNO telah undi parti lawan atau merosakkan undi atau tidak mengundi.
2. Hasilnya Barisan Nasional telah kalah di lima buah negeri dan satu wilayah. Di lain-lain negeri di Semenanjung kemenangan Barisan Nasional adalah tipis. Walaupun Barisan Nasional menang di peringkat pusat tetapi gagal mendapat dua pertiga daripada kerusi Dewan Rakyat seperti yang biasa dimenangi sejak merdeka oleh Perikatan dan Barisan Nasional.
3. Umum akui bahawa ada mesej yang hendak dihantar kepada Barisan Nasional dan pemimpinnya oleh pengundi. Tetapi hingga sekarang ternampak jelas bahawa pemimpin Barisan Nasional terutama Presiden UMNO dan Pengerusi Barisan Nasional, tidak dapat memahami mesej yang dihantar atau tidak tahu mentafsir mesej berkenaan.
4. Ini sudah tentu mengecewakan mereka daripada ahli UMNO terutamanya yang dengan hati yang sedih dan tangan yang menggeletar mengundi parti lawan. Tetapi kekecewaan ini tidak terhad kepada mereka sahaja. Kekalahan UMNO yang teruk telah mempengaruhi ramai orang Melayu yang lain. Dan sikap baru di kalangan orang Melayu ini akan menghakiskan lagi sokongan kepada UMNO.
5. Hari ini orang Melayu terbahagi kepada empat kelompok.
6. Yang pertama ialah mereka yang akan bersama UMNO walau apapun yang terjadi kepada UMNO atau negara. Golongan ini adalah yang terbesar dalam UMNO dan sokongan mereka menyakinkan pimpinan UMNO bahawa mereka selamat dan UMNO selamat.
7. Kumpulan kedua ialah mereka yang pada Pilihanraya Umum ke 12 telah undi parti lawan atau merosakkan undi atau tidak mengundi.
8. Kumpulan ini terkejut dengan hasil tindakan mereka. Mungkin ada yang menyesal. Tetapi lebih ramai daripada mereka yang kecewa dan semakin marah kerana “pengorbanan” mereka tidak mendatangkan hasil yang di harapkan.
9. Kumpulan ini akan berusaha menyampaikan mesej yang lebih keras. Jika tidak juga di hirau mesej mereka, sikap mereka akan diperlihatkan pada Pilihanraya Umum ke 13 dengan mengundi parti lawan terus.
10. Kumpulan ketiga ialah mereka yang telah undi parti UMNO tetapi kecewa dengan sikap pemimpin yang tidak mahu bertanggungjawab terhadap kekalahan parti, yang menafi parti kalah, yang menyalahkan orang lain, yang tidak mahu mendengar pendapat ahli, tidak membenar ahli mengkritik, tidak benar ahli dengar pendapat orang lain, yang tidak mahu membenar pindaan kepada kuota, yang larang EGM (Extraordinary General Meeting), yang sering berkata ekonomi kukuh dan baik sedangkan rakyat menderita, yang kata inflasi hanya 5% sedangkan harga minyak naik 40%, harga ayam 100%, harga beras sekali ganda dan lain-lain lagi, yang semuanya jauh lebih mahal dari 5%. Mereka bosan dengan kenyataan-kenyataan pemimpin yang mendakwa benda yang tidak benar berkali-kali.
11. Mereka ini sudah tidak lagi berminat untuk menyokong UMNO dalam pilihanraya.
12. Pemimpin UMNO tidak dapat mengenali mereka kerana mereka tidak memperdengarkan rintihan mereka dan mereka bukan ahli Jawatankuasa Cawangan atau Bahagian yang sering mencium tangan pemimpin, yang boleh di arah oleh pemimpin.
13. Seperti kumpulan yang telah undi parti lawan dalam Pilihanraya ke 12, mereka berdiam tetapi akan bertindak di Pilihanraya Umum ke 13 dengan tidak mengundi UMNO atau tidak mengundi langsung atau rosakkan undi.
14. Kumpulan keempat adalah golongan muda dan yang berpelajaran termasuk ahli professional. Kebanyakan mereka ini bukan ahli UMNO dan bosan dengan UMNO. Mereka berpendapat samada UMNO tidak relevan atau UMNO adalah kumpulan pengampu yang hanya ingin mendapat sesuatu bagi diri mereka, justeru itu tidak ikhlas walaupun semasa cium tangan.
15. Ramai mereka ini berpendapat UMNO adalah parti perkauman yang sudah tidak berguna lagi. Malaysia adalah hak semua rakyat berbilang kaum Malaysia. Justeru itu tidak mengapa jika mereka pilih parti pelbagai kaum walaupun ternampak jelas yang parti-parti ini sebenarnya diperalatkan oleh kaum tertentu.
16. Kumpulan (2), (3) dam (4) mungkin tidak sebesar kumpulan (1) jumlahnya tetapi mereka menjadi kumpulan penentu. Dalam pilihanraya kemenangan atau kekalahan di sebabkan oleh sebilangan yang kecil sahaja daripada pengundi. Jumlah pengundi mungkin besar tetapi perbezaan antara yang menang dengan yang kalah biasanya tidak sampai pun 5% daripada jumlah pengundi yang mengundi.
17. Jika jumlah kumpulan (2), (3) dan (4) hanya 5% daripada jumlah pengundi dan mereka tidak mengundi parti yang menang dahulu, parti itu akan kalah. Jika mereka memberi undi mereka kepada parti lawan, parti berkenaan tetap akan menang.
18. Dalam Pilihanraya Umum ke 12 kelebihan undi pada Barisan Nasional amat kecil peratusannya. Jika kumpulan (2), (3) dan (4) tarik keluar hanya sedikit sahaja daripada undi mereka jika mereka beri kepada parti lawan, Barisan Nasional tetap kalah.
19. Jika tidak ada usaha untuk menawan hati kumpulan (2), (3) dan (4) Barisan Nasional tetap akan kalah pada Pilihanraya Umum ke 13.
20. Pemimpin Barisan Nasional, terutama Pengerusi Barisan Nasonal, dan Presiden UMNO boleh berseronok sekarang dan bermegah-megah dengan apa yang dipercayai sebagai sokongan tidak berbelahbagi dan cium tangan ahli-ahli UMNO. Tetapi ingatlah ramalan untuk sapu bersih semua negeri dan memenangi 2/3 Parlimen Pilihanraya Umum ke 12 sebenarnya adalah khayalan, penipuan diri kerana asyik dengan sandiwara-sandiwara yang diadakan oleh mereka yang hanya ingin membodek pemimpin.
21. Ingatlah apabila UMNO tidak relevan lagi dan hancur berkecai, orang Melayu dahulu, sekarang dan yang akan datang akan kutuk mereka yang kerana kepentingan diri, kerana takut, kerana tamak telah menghancurkan UMNO yang mereka sayangi.
Posted by Dr. Mahathir Mohamad at 1:55 PM
Friday, June 06, 2008
And I'm puzzled too...
Friday June 6, 2008
Yong: Fuel price hike may result in serious political fallout
KOTA KINABALU: The rise in fuel prices may result in a serious political fallout for the Barisan Nasional government, a Sabah component leader warned yesterday.
Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president Datuk Yong Teck Lee wondered whether the overall consequences of the fuel subsidy cuts had been carefully considered.
He said the immediate reaction to the price increase among Sabahans was that of despair.
“If a government loses the goodwill of the people, then it will find them even more difficult to govern,” Yong, a former chief minister, told reporters here.
He said political parties, elected representatives and civil servants were likely to feel more pressure from the people to “do something” to ease their economic woes.
He said the fuel price increase had come almost immediately after people were finding they had to pay more for some types of rice, adding that those most affected were the low- and middle-income earners.
“For those who have just been earning enough to make ends meet every month, the fuel price increase will be a serious blow as they will have to pay more at the petrol pump and when they buy groceries,” Yong said.
He said even middle-income earners with salaries of between RM4,000 and RM5,000 would be reeling from the effects of the price hike.
Yong also doubted the impact of the RM625 rebate for vehicle owners and RM125 for motorcyclists as there was a time lapse between when money was spent on the fuel and when they would receive their rebate.
He said many people continued to question why Malaysia, as a net petroleum exporting nation, was experiencing a negative impact from a spike in global oil prices.
“The man in the street is puzzled as to why ordinary folks are losing out when Petronas is making so much money,” he added.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/6/6/nation/21477794&sec=nation
The haste of showing who's in power.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/6/6/nation/21476477&sec=nation
Friday June 6, 2008
Shahrir: Why now and not in August
KUALA LUMPUR: The decision to expedite the announcement of the increase in petrol and diesel prices was not an “afterthought”, but rather a need, said Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad.
Admitting that the ministry had assured consumers recently that there would be no increase in fuel prices at least until August, Shahrir explained that the Government could no longer delay the decision.
“After much discussion with the Cabinet and the Anti-Inflation Committee we decided that it was best to make the announcement on Wednesday in light of the rapid global increase in oil prices.
“If we had waited longer, there would have been a possibility of a different price increase,” he said during a special live programme on RTM which was also attended by Bernama general manager Datuk Azman Ujang and Agenda Daily editor Hanafiah Man.
In the 40-minute programme, Malaysians could call in or text in their messages and queries.
In justifying the 78 sen per litre increase for petrol, Shahrir said the amount was the second choice.
“It was either 50 sen, 78 sen or RM1. Initially it was RM1, but then we decided that rather than placing it at 50 sen and then increasing it later, we would just stick to a one-off increase.
“Why do something twice when it can be implemented once?” he asked.
Shahrir also described the new subsidy system as one that would have space to improve, develop and change in accordance with current needs and the global market situation.
He said that there would definitely be shortcomings in the new system, and thus it would not be permanent.
He added that it would be reliant on global market prices in all aspects.
“For example if we talk about petrol, with this new system in place, it would fluctuate according to global oil prices.
“If it goes up, our price will go up and vice versa, but what is maintained is still the 30 sen per litre discount on market price,” Shahrir said.
Asked about the lifting of the ban on sale of fuel to foreign vehicles at the country's borders, Shahrir reiterated that the ban was meant to be a temporary measure when it was announced initially.
06.06.08 part 2..
OK, i have got to write something...thanks to those who have wished me..thanks for remembering and being such nice friends..
1. ct - sms - 00:01 06.06.08 - "i didn't mean to be the first person, but my alarm went off. So..epi bday! :-p
2. maziz - sms - 00:06 06.06.08 - " [a picture of a cake] Hepi b'day"
3. ayuikhwani - sms - 00:48 06.06.08 - "was driving td, but didn't forget. Happy birthday, Jida :)"
4. sweekoon - sms - 07:29 06.06.08 - "HAPPy Happy BIRTHDAY AZIDA! :) i slept last nite..hehe.." -- we share the same birthday ;)
for the rest...thanks for the shouts and wishes, i wish i'd have a handycam to record the moments.
1. ct - sms - 00:01 06.06.08 - "i didn't mean to be the first person, but my alarm went off. So..epi bday! :-p
2. maziz - sms - 00:06 06.06.08 - " [a picture of a cake] Hepi b'day"
3. ayuikhwani - sms - 00:48 06.06.08 - "was driving td, but didn't forget. Happy birthday, Jida :)"
4. sweekoon - sms - 07:29 06.06.08 - "HAPPy Happy BIRTHDAY AZIDA! :) i slept last nite..hehe.." -- we share the same birthday ;)
for the rest...thanks for the shouts and wishes, i wish i'd have a handycam to record the moments.
06.06.08
It's my birthday. I have just got to book this space on this date..if not write something, probably later. I'm too overwhelmed with the day, and also the fact that I am not on leave from work on this very date like it has always been before annually.
Next year, 06.06.09, the date will fall on the same date as the Agong's Birthday. Lo' and Behold, it's a Public Holiday and a long weekend!
Next year, 06.06.09, the date will fall on the same date as the Agong's Birthday. Lo' and Behold, it's a Public Holiday and a long weekend!
What Mahathir has to say..
"Thursday, June 5, 2008
Oil Price
The price of crude oil has increased by 400 percent in the last three years. It follows that the price of products must increase, sooner or later. In other countries petrol prices had already increased. In the United Kingdom one litre of petrol sells for more than one pound sterling or RM7. In the United States it is about RM5.
That the price in neighbouring countries has gone up is shown by the rush to fill up by Thai and to a lesser extent Singapore vehicles.
The Government has now announced an increase in petrol price by 78 sen to RM2.70 per litre, an increase of more than 40 per cent.
I may be mistaken but there seems to be less vehicles on the road today. But obviously that is not all that will happen. All other consumer goods, services and luxury goods would increase in price.
The cost of living must go up. Put another way there will be inflation and the standard of living will go down.
Obviously our increase in petrol price is far less than in the United Kingdom or the United States. But our per capita income is about one-third of theirs. In purchasing power terms our increase is more than in the UK or the US.
The increase hurts but the pain is greater not just because of the increase percentage-wise is higher than in developed countries but because of the manner the increase is made.
A few days ago the Government decided to ban sale of petrol to foreign cars. It flipped. Now foreign cars can buy again. Flopped.
Knowing that in a few days it was going to raise the price and foreigners would be allowed to buy, why cannot the Government just wait instead of banning and unbanning.
But be that as it may what could the Government have done to lessen the burden on the people that results from the increase in petrol price.
In the first place the Government should not have floated the Ringgit. A floating rate creates uncertainties and we cannot gain anything from the strengthened Ringgit. Certainly the people have not experienced any increase in their purchasing power because of the appreciation in the exchange rate between the US Dollar and the Ringgit.
Actually the Ringgit has increased by about 80 sen (from RM3.80 to RM3.08 to 1 US Dollar) per US Dollar, i.e. by more than 20 per cent. Had the Government retained the fixed rate system and increased the value of the Ringgit, say 10 per cent at a time, the cost of imports, in Ringgit terms can be monitored and reduced by 10 per cent. At 20 per cent appreciation the cost of imports should decrease by 20 per cent. But we know the prices of imported goods or services have not decreased at all. This means we are paying 20 per cent higher for our imports including the raw material and components for our industries.
Since oil prices are fixed in US Dollar, the increase in US Dollar prices of oil should also be mitigated by 20 per cent in Malaysian Ringgit.
But the Government wants to please the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank and decided to float the Ringgit. As a result the strengthening of the Ringgit merely increased our cost of exports without giving our people the benefit of lower cost of imports.
This is not wisdom after the event. I had actually told a Government Minister not to float the Ringgit three years ago. But of course I am not an expert, certainly I know little about the international financial regimes.
I believe the people expect the increase of petrol price. But what they are angry about is the quantum and the suddenness. The Prime Minister was hinting at August but suddenly it came two months earlier, just after the ban on sale of petrol to foreigners.
If the increase had been more gradual, the people would not feel it so much. But of course this means that the Government would have to subsidise, though to a decreasing extent.
Can the Government subsidise? I am the “adviser” to Petronas but I know very little about it beyond what is published in its accounts. What I do know may not be very accurate but should be sufficient for me to draw certain conclusions.
Roughly Malaysia produces 650,000 barrels of crude per day. We consume 400,000 barrels leaving 250,000 barrels to be exported.
Three years ago the selling price of crude was about USD30 per barrel. Today it is USD130 – an increase of USD100. There is hardly any increase in the production cost so that the extra USD100 can be considered as pure profit.
Our 250,000 barrels of export should earn us 250,000 x 100 x 365 x 3 = RM27,375,000,000 (twenty seven billion Ringgit).
But Petronas made a profit of well over RM70 billion, all of which belong to the Government.
By all accounts the Government is flushed with money.
But besides petrol the prices of palm oil, rubber and tin have also increased by about 400 per cent. Plantation companies and banks now earn as much as RM3 billion in profits each. Taxes paid by them must have also increased greatly.
I feel sure that maintaining the subsidy and gradually decreasing it would not hurt the Government finances.
In the medium term ways and means must be found to reduce wasteful consumption and increase income. We may not be able to fix the minimum wage at a high level but certainly we can improve the minimum wage.
Actually our wages are high compared to some of our neighbours. The investors who come here are attracted not by cheap labour but by other factors, among which is the attitude of the Government towards the business community and the investors in particular.
From what I hear business friendliness is wanting in the present Government – so much so that even Malaysians are investing in other countries. There are rumblings about political affiliations influencing decisions. Generally Government politicians are said to be arrogant.
Malaysia is short of manpower. The labour intensive industries are not benefiting Malaysians. Foreign workers are remitting huge sums of money home.
The industrial policy must change so that high tech is promoted in order to give Malaysians higher wages to cope with rising costs of living.
The world is facing economic turmoil due to the depreciation of the US Dollar, the sub-prime loan crisis, rising oil and raw material prices, food shortages and the continued activities of the greedy hedge funds. The possibility of a US recession is real. In a way the US is already in recession. The world economy will be dragged down by it.
Malaysia will be affected by all these problems. I wonder whether the Government is prepared for this.
We cannot avoid all the negative effects but there must be ways to mitigate against them and to lessen the burden that must be borne by all Malaysians. I am sure the Government will not just pass all these problems to the people as the review of oil prices every month seem to suggest."
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Un-Believable.
The government announced an RM0.78 hike in the petrol price per litre. That brings us to RM2.70/L by midnite of 5th June 2008.
So much for the year that marks the auspicious date, 08.08.08 and 20.08.2008..
I have seen the goverment as being impatient in introducing the price hike. The speech made by the second finance minister and newspaper reports before 5pm 4th June 2008 gave many the impression that the new price would be introduced in August. Not until that I was informed by friends and newsflash on berita terkini on the tv that the new price will be introduced by 12 midnite on the same day. Imagine the mad rush..
I am getting the impression that the goverment is all excited especially at showing the people about who is in charge and who is at power. It really strikes my concern, what is with all the haste? Why in just about 7 hrs before the new price..even before the office hours ended. Why create "kegawatan" dalam negara within this 7 hours? Why can't they be more people friendly and give a longer time window, say..2 or 3 days before the price increase? Do they get all excited with the post announcement attention that they are getting? Do they feel popular now?
The goverment ministers, Prime Minister, they are paid in highly 5 figures, or perhaps 6 figures, I don't know..and maybe I have not included their side incomes.."tender berat sebelah", "kroni",scomi and what not.. They would hardly feel any blow personally. These people will never understand how the rakyat trying hard to digest the blow. It seems like they are too angkuh with their comforts and just couldn't be bothered.
So much about the RM625 per year for each car owned, why can't they translate it into a "subsidy". Via postal order?? What a joke. It's like something a government would do during a post merdeka era. Damnit, can't we control it via our IC with its so called smart card chip. It's a matter of configuring the machine settings. If the chip in our passport can show that we're Malaysian with all other details, why can't our IC control the RM625 as subsidy?
FOMCA today warns the goverment on the aftermath of the sudden high increase. There will be further increase in :
The only people who seem to be happy are the foreigners, Singaporeans in particular. Not only that the price is still much lower in Singapore, even the half-tank car fuel ban is off now. I am not blaming them when the star reports today that, " ..it is a sign that the goverment has been listening to the public.." public of which country come again??
Maybe someday i'll brace their effort, but as of now, Congratulations BN and UMNO, for booking your loss in the next election. I'm sick of this goverment and the face of the no talent Prime Minister and his ministers.
Related Links :
Malaysians outcry
Singaporeans relief
Foreign car fuel ban off :
FOMCA
Gasoline usage and price around the world
So much for the year that marks the auspicious date, 08.08.08 and 20.08.2008..
- not only that the summer movies sucks
- the highest increase in petrol price.. RM1.92-->RM2.70
- BN losses 4 states, first times for Kedah, Perak, Penang and Selangor, the biGGest loss for BN in history of Malaysia.
- opposition parties formed opposition coalition party
- Raymond resigns..he..he..
I have seen the goverment as being impatient in introducing the price hike. The speech made by the second finance minister and newspaper reports before 5pm 4th June 2008 gave many the impression that the new price would be introduced in August. Not until that I was informed by friends and newsflash on berita terkini on the tv that the new price will be introduced by 12 midnite on the same day. Imagine the mad rush..
I am getting the impression that the goverment is all excited especially at showing the people about who is in charge and who is at power. It really strikes my concern, what is with all the haste? Why in just about 7 hrs before the new price..even before the office hours ended. Why create "kegawatan" dalam negara within this 7 hours? Why can't they be more people friendly and give a longer time window, say..2 or 3 days before the price increase? Do they get all excited with the post announcement attention that they are getting? Do they feel popular now?
The goverment ministers, Prime Minister, they are paid in highly 5 figures, or perhaps 6 figures, I don't know..and maybe I have not included their side incomes.."tender berat sebelah", "kroni",scomi and what not.. They would hardly feel any blow personally. These people will never understand how the rakyat trying hard to digest the blow. It seems like they are too angkuh with their comforts and just couldn't be bothered.
So much about the RM625 per year for each car owned, why can't they translate it into a "subsidy". Via postal order?? What a joke. It's like something a government would do during a post merdeka era. Damnit, can't we control it via our IC with its so called smart card chip. It's a matter of configuring the machine settings. If the chip in our passport can show that we're Malaysian with all other details, why can't our IC control the RM625 as subsidy?
FOMCA today warns the goverment on the aftermath of the sudden high increase. There will be further increase in :
- goods
- electricity - confirmed. for some reason, it is increased
- crime rates - confirmed. for the obvious reason
- cost of materials and productions - houses, buildings
- inflation - used to be RM50/week for petrol, now it would be around rm80++/week. How much does RM100 worth now?
The only people who seem to be happy are the foreigners, Singaporeans in particular. Not only that the price is still much lower in Singapore, even the half-tank car fuel ban is off now. I am not blaming them when the star reports today that, " ..it is a sign that the goverment has been listening to the public.." public of which country come again??
Maybe someday i'll brace their effort, but as of now, Congratulations BN and UMNO, for booking your loss in the next election. I'm sick of this goverment and the face of the no talent Prime Minister and his ministers.
Related Links :
Malaysians outcry
Singaporeans relief
Foreign car fuel ban off :
FOMCA
Gasoline usage and price around the world
Country/Territory  | US$/L | US$/gal | Local units | Date of price | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 1.48 | 5.60 | A$1.54/L | 2008-05-27 | [5] |
| Bahrain (Manama) | 0.27 | 1.02 | BHD 0.100/L (95 Octane) BHD 0.080/L (90 Octane) | 2008-04-29 | [6] |
| Belgium (Brussels) | 2.23 | 8.44 | €1.45/L | 2008-05-12 | [7][8][9] |
| Brazil (São Paulo) | 1.59 | 6.02 | R$2,59/L | 2008-04-29 | [citation needed] |
| Canada | 1.45 | 5.49 | C$1.45/L | 2008-05-30 | GasBuddy.com [7] |
| Chile | 1.27 | 4.81 | CLP 605/L | 2008-05-29 | [8] |
| China | 0.74 | 2.80 | RMB 5.13/L | 2008-05-27 | CNN Money/[9]/[10] |
| Colombia | 1.07 | 4.05 | $7400/G | 2008-05-24 | |
| Croatia | 1.95 | 7.38 | HRK 8.99/L | 2008-05-23 | INA Unleaded 95 [10] |
| Cyprus | 1.63 | 6.17 | €1.04/L | 2008-04-22 | for Unleaded 95[11] |
| Denmark (Copenhagen) | 2.46 | 9.31 | DKK11.50/L | 2008-05-28 | [8] |
| Dominican Republic | 1.51 | 5.72 | 2008-05-27 | [12]/diariolibre.com | |
| Egypt (Cairo) | 0.32 | 1.21 | 2008-05-05 | [11][12] | |
| Eritrea | 2.53 | 9.58 | 2008-05-06 | [13] | |
| Estonia | 1.75 | 6.62 | EEK 17.40/L | 2008-05-27 | [13] |
| Finland | 2.35 | 8.90 | €1.511/L | 2008-05-28 | [14] |
| France | 2.13 | 8.06 | 2008-05-06 | [13] | |
| Germany | 2.31 | 8.74 | €1.481/L (Normalbenzin) €1.477/L (Superbenzin) €1.546/L (SuperPlus) €1.486/L(Diesel) | 2008-05-28 | [15] |
| Greece | 1.95 | 7.38 | €1.24/L | 2008-05-12 | |
| Guatemala | 1.95 | 7.38 | $4.76/L | 2008-05-12 | |
| Honduras | 1.07 | 4.05 | Lps. 81.00/G | 2008-05-26 | |
| Hong Kong | 1.997 | 7.56 | HK$15.54/L | 2008-04-12 | Shell Hong Kong/[16] |
| Hungary | 1.985 | 7.51 | HUF 315/L | 2008-05-15 | |
| Iceland | 2.13 | 8.06 | ISK 159.20/L | 2008-05-27 | Olís/[17] |
| India (Bangalore) | 1.36 | 5.15 | INR 58.50/L | 2008-05-05 | |
| Indonesia | 0.65 | 2.46 | IDR 6,000/L | 2008-05-24 | Pertamina/[18] |
| Iran | 1.11 | 4.20 | 2007-05-05 | CNN Money/[19] | |
| Israel | 2.1 | 7.95 | NIS 6.73/L | 2008-05-31 | Israel Min. of National Infrastructures (Hebrew)[20] |
| Italy | 2.32 | 8.78 | €1.49/L | 2008-05-18 | [8] |
| Japan | 1.54 | 5.83 | ¥160.1/L | 2008-05-12 | The Oil Information Center Japan[21] |
| Kuwait (Kuwait City) | 0.21 | 0.79 | KWD 0.060/L (91 Octane) 0.065/L (95 Octane) | 2006-04-13 | [22]/Kuwait Oil Company |
| Malaysia | 0.84 | 3.18 | RM2.70/L | 2008-06-05 | New Petrol Prices in Malaysia |
| Mexico (Mexico City) | 0.62 | 2.35 | MX$6.80/L | 2007-05-05 | Banco de Información Económica/[23] |
| Monaco | 2.20 | 8.33 | 2008-05-06 | [13] | |
| Netherlands | 2.57 | 9.73 | €1.65/L (Euro 95) €1.73/L (Super 98) | 2008-06-02 | United Consumers [24] |
| New Zealand | 1.62 | 6.13 | NZ$2.059/L | 2008-05-27 | Pricewatch/fx.com on 2006-09-29 |
| Nigeria (Lagos) | 0.10 | 0.38 | 2005-03-13 | CNN Money/[25] | |
| North Korea | 0.71 | 2.69 | 101.139 KPW/L | 2006-11 | 2007 GTZ[26] |
| Norway (Oslo) | 2.65 | 10.03 | NOK 13.29/L | 2008-05-24 | Shell/[27] |
| Pakistan | 1.06 | 4.01 | Rs 68.81/L | 2008-05-04 | PSO/[28] |
| Philippines (Cebu) | 1.22 | 4.62 | P 53.40/L | 2008-05-27 | Caltex Philippines |
| Poland (Krakow) | 2.04 | 7.72 | PLN 4.36/L | 2008-04-15 | [29] |
| Portugal | 2.35 | 8.90 | €1.505/L (95 Octane) €1.634/L (98 Octane) €1.426 (Diesel) | 2008-05-28 | Galp official price MaisGasolina 2008-05-28 Update |
| Qatar (Doha) | 0.22 | 0.83 | QAR 0.75/L (97 Octane) QAR 0.67/L (90 Octane) | 2007-09-17 | [30] / The General Secretariat for Development Planning - State of Qatar |
| Romania (Bucharest) | 1.78 | 6.74 | RON 4.1/L | 2008-04-15 | [31] |
| Russia (Moscow) | 1.00 | 3.79 | RUR 23.82/L | 2008-05-07 | [14] |
| Saudi Arabia (Riyadh) | 0.12 | 0.45 | SAR 0.45/L (91 Octane) and SAR 0.67/L (95 Octane) | 2007-05-16 | [15][11] |
| Sierra Leone | 4.87 | 18.43 | 14400 Leones/L | 2008-05-01 | [32] |
| Singapore | 1.60 | 6.06 | S$2.379(VPower) S$2.26/L(98UL) S$2.186(95UL) S$2.153(92UL) | 2008-05-22 | Shell |
| Slovenia | 1.83 | 6.93 | €1.165/L | 2008-05-27 | Petrol |
| South Africa | 1.23 | 4.66 | R9.460/L | 2008-05-27 | SASOL [33] |
| South Korea | 1.95 | 7.38 | 1,960 KRW/L | 2008-06 | 2007 GTZ[34] |
| Spain (Madrid) | 1.94 | 7.34 | €1.23/L | 2008-05-27 | [35] |
| Sweden | 2.30 | 8.71 | SEK 13.64/L | 2008-05-22 | JET/ |
| Switzerland (Zurich) | 1.88 | 7.12 | CHF 1.95/L | 2008-05-28 | |
| Thailand | 1.18 | 4.47 | 38.39 Baht/L | 2008-05-15 | Ministry of Energy, Thailand/[36] |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 0.48 | 1.82 | $3TTD/L | 2008-05-26 | |
| Turkey | 2.68 | 10.14 | YTL 3.44/L | 2008-04-22 | NTV/[37] |
| Turkmenistan | 0.08 | 0.30 | TMM 400/L | 2006-11-25 | Turkmenistan.ru/[38] |
| UAE | 0.37 | 1.40 | AED 6.25/Imperial gal (95 Octane) AED 6.75/Imperial gal (98 Octane) | 2008-05-27 | [39]/Bahrain Tribune |
| Ukraine | 1.33 | 5.03 | UAH 6.4/L | 2008-06-01 | |
| United Kingdom | 2.26 | 8.56 | £1.14/L | 2008-05-22 | petrolprices.comUnleaded price graphBBC News |
| United States | 1.05 | 3.97 | $3.97/gal | 2008-06-02 | [16] |
| Uruguay (Montevideo) | 1.6 | 6.06 | U$ 32/L | 2008-01-12 | |
| Venezuela (Caracas) | 0.05 | 0.19 | Bs. 97; BsF. 0.097 | 2008-01-12 |
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Somebody help me
I really, really, really can't get up in the morning..
Now I feel like it's taking its toll on my job..
Now I feel like it's taking its toll on my job..
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