“Rakyat Membebankan Kerajaan”

1. Few weeks ago, at the height of the oil price increase, the government said that it no longer able to maintain the current domestic oil price due to several reasons. The government is burden with the responsibility of giving to much subsidy. As such, it has no choice but to increase the price. Ever since that day, the government ministers has been defending its decision on the reason why it has to increase the domestic oil price.

2. In my opinion, the government decision was done in haste and appears to focus on the subsidy. They did not think far enough on the effects to the people. The government decision reflects poor scenario planning and impact planning.

3. While I have no qualms of government, increasing the oil price among road users but it should have been done on selective basis by industry. As a result, of across the board oil price, price of goods and services went up. Now the government is back paddling its steps by trying to identify and provide subsidy to certain sector of this industry. The only problem is with this methodology is that, once the supplier has increased the price of goods, they are not going to bring it down.

4. I was at the hypermarket yesterday doing my monthly shopping. Flour was sold at RM1.00 more than the controlled price. My regular margarine went up by more than RM2.00. So is the fish, vegetables etc. My usual monthly expenditure at this particular Hypermarket is RM350. Yesterday I paid RM450. While I agree that the government need to increase the price of oil to some extent, I find that the government has failed to protect the interest of the masses.

5. It would have made more sense that the government initiate some simple measures as follows:

a. Identify the sector and industry that should be subsidised and maintain the subsidy. This is the sector that is related to the food supply chain industry.

b. To prevent outflow of cash from the country, only Petronas is allowed to sell subsidized fuel. The other foreign own station can only sell non-subsidized fuel. This will allow money from one pocket goes to another and not to someone else pocket.

c. The government need to find ways to generate more revenue in order to mitigate the increase fuel subsidy

6. The Government Ministers keep saying that “Bebanan kerajaan bertambah..” or in English, the Government is burdened by the recent global fuel hike. Let me make one thing clear here. We, the people elect the government to make life easy for us. We elect you to shoulder the burden, so that we, the people may not suffer. It is the role of the government to be burden. We did not give you the mandate for you to enjoy a comfortable chair, a nice car and a prestigious office without nothing.

7. Let me say this one more time, If you feel that the people in this country is burdening you with their problems, then please do us, the people and your self a favour. PLEASE RESIGN and STOP GOVERNING. Let others who think they can do, do it.