Petrol Price Increase? Ubah Gaya Hidup lah!
Posted by Chan Kelwin in Malaysia oh MalaysiaQuestion:
Where is the hottest spot in town on the eve of 5th June 2008 in Malaysia?
Answer:
Every single petrol station in the country. Thanks to the announcement made by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi that the price of petrol will increase 78 cents to RM2.70 at midnight.
Shortly after lunch today, I received a phone call from a close acquaintance alerting me that petrol price will be increased by as much as 50 cents starting midnight. I brushed aside the claim thinking that there is no way the government would increase it by that much. I recalled the previous time when the price of petrol was increased by 30 cents, people took it to the streets demonstrating on all. Therefore, 50 cents would be absurd.
I received an SMS a few hours later by the same person telling me that the price increase might not materialize after all only to hear my colleagues getting all excited about some “increase” moments later. I heard something about “70 cents”.
Fearing the worst, I immediately hop over to the Malaysiakini website and saw the headline — Fuel hike: 78 sen more to RM2.70 per litre. Right at the same time, both TheStar and NST’s website was crawling. I guess it must have been due to the announcement. At that very moment, many in the country must have been talking about the price hike.
I am sure this will have a huge impact on many people. Those who travel a lot in their vehicle will definitely feel a pinch a blow to the face. The price of food will increase as a direct result of the price hike. Gone are the days where one of my favorite food — roti canai — used to cost only 50 cents a piece. Nowadays, they are selling it for RM1 each.
So, what does this 78 cents petrol price hike mean to me? Apparently, not much. Well, at least not directly since I do not own a car. However, my expenses will definitely balloon if the price of food increases. So I guess everyone who eats will fill the pinch. Hell. I’m sure you have heard others complaining, “petrol price increase, rice price increase, toll price increase, only salary no increase”.
If that’s not enough, they are even raising the electric tariffs. Damn it! I hope my landlady won’t raise my rent since the electricity and water bill is included in the rent.
In the same Malaysiakini article, the Pee-M mentioned that the government plans to offer rebates to vehicle owners as a means to offset the petrol price increase. If (and that is a BIG IF) this “scheme” materializes, vehicles below 2000cc will enjoy an annual RM625 rebate while motorcycles up to 250cc will receive an annual RM150 rebate.
Below are some calculations (correct me if I’m wrong — it’s been some time):
An annual rebate of RM625 will only be worth RM52 per month.
70 liters of petrol at RM2.70/liter = RM189.00 (new price)
70 liters of petrol at RM1.92/liter = RM134.40 (old price)
Difference in price = RM54.60
Therefore, in order to fully “enjoy” the rebate-form-subsidy, you must not consume more than 70 liters of petrol per month. We have not even taken into consideration the increase of food items.
How much is 70 liters of fuel? 2 full tanks for a Viva-Kelisa type? I really have no idea.
Points to remember are that, firstly, this scheme is just a PLAN. It may or may not materialize. Secondly, the price of petrol will be adjusted monthly based on the market price because the government will only subsidize 30 cents (niamah so little) of the market price. Everyone better pray that it doesn’t or else we may see an increase to that RM2.70/liter mark again. Thirdly, the price could increase to between RM3 to 4 in August.
To be fair, the government cannot continue to subsidize the price of petrol forever. Can they? Therefore, reducing the subsidy can help the government save billions of ringgit, which is good (I guess). The fund that is supposed to be used to subsidize the price of petrol can then be channeled to other areas that benefit the people like building better transportation system, better/free healthcare, abolish the damn tolls, better education, better everything lah, simple.
What is the government planning to use those funds for? Public transportation is horrible, tolls are here to stay, education can never be free, healthcare will never be free… Ask them to be more transparent, they are not willing to. *sigh*
I am sure many have seen the above YouTube video circulating before the 12th General Elections. The question is what “stage” are you in now?
30 cents increase and there were demonstrations, tear gases and water canons. No reward for the one who can guess what 78 cents increase will do.
Well, the Prime Minister has once again asked the people “to change their lifestyle and be prudent following today’s hike“.
UBAH GAYA HIDUP! or…
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hi there. i cant help but to disagree that malaysian gov cannot keep subsidizing the petrol price. not that i am an advocate for subsidy for everything, but i guess there is a right time for everything. reducing subsidy when inflation is at an unprecedented height, and increasing the price at such a quantum, are certainly not right.
we are a net exporter of high quality (low octane) petroleum, and now that the price is sky high, the increase in government income correspondingly goes up as well. so at this juncture the government is not really running short of funds by subsidizing petrol. The gov should be freaking rich now.
what is the gov’s true motivation then?
How can you? Ask us to change lifestyle. Yet, you the corrupted politicians are enjoying lavish lifestyle using the taxpayer money (our hard earned money). To be frank, you will never ever be safe until you greatgrandchildren.
I agree with all malaysian that disagree with the gavorment,they tried to do something impressive like previous years when Dr. M handling worst years of malaysian economic.They(gover) planning to re-install back back past scene and memories so people(citizen) can thankful for everything under predictable from their thought.After they save the moment of small panic scenario, then every single level nationality will ‘terhutang budi’.How to repay back to them(goverment)?Of course ..X-voted them back for all century. what a good script , screen play.
I do not agreed with your comment of “The fund that is supposed to be used to subsidize the price of petrol can then be channeled to other areas that benefit the people like building better transportation system, better/free healthcare, abolish the damn tolls, better education, better everything lah, simple.”
This is simply to optimistic and did not reflect the actual that BN Federal Government to do in their next to use the funding after cutting off the subsidies. I do not see if will happen so soon, 2-3 years time, provided that they still stay in power and relevant.
The government is losing touch with the people now and did not hear how suffer the people now…
What the motive behind this price hike??? anyone is guessing. For myself, I would think that all this oil and electicity price hike is to put people into misery state and indirect to control the unhappy people’s budget and to prevent them to doing something to affect the government position. Imaging that we need to change lifestyle, work harder for the mising money, do we have extra time to go demo and fight for our right???
Is a conspiracy plan by BN to keep the people in their’s control.
Definitely, this is another tactic to control the people by letting the oil price hike…except for Sabah & Sarawak. People urged to change lifestyle and spending. They also expecting some demo or worst riots so that they can declare state of emergency and they be the caretaker and to fully control the whole nation and states of Malaysia.
All this is conspiracy. They have work out the screen play one by one. Soon more announcements will make from the government in their attempt to control the people.
But do not forget that they (government) also take a great risk to be topple by people…in the next GE if their plan fail.
What can the people do now…??? I got now idea yet…
you all you should know that this increas thing in petrol and electric is just to cover bake the lost of the othere state they lost there income from as in indonisia the price of petrol is 2.05 and they are now full importer of petrol so did you see the deference how come they say they cant subsidies any more and they exoprt the high grade oil and bring in the low tipe and at the top of that they charge tax on it oh come on week up you all all your natural resource is being sucked by this : corruption people did any one know how much the total net income of petrol. gas. palm oil. rubber . toll. road tax .car tax .import tax .tax of your total income salary above 2600 and so many othere tax like hotel 5%
restrant 5% .telecome .astro
and much much more
mr PM n DPM u have no rights to say change yr lifestyle. we earn we spend. u take but dont know to spend. i mean our money for tax. u will send a single man to spase spending billions, but u never change yr style. u will buy submarines n fighter jet for millions, ink for 2 million n never use. yr minister will finish 27 million in just 2 months. u can waste billions but we cannot spend ringgits for our good sake. we know to spend u pls change yr mind set. we need to CHANGE GOVERMENT.
Pak Lah and his goons ( read : ministers ) just dont care cuz they got helluva salaries + allowances ( read : govt subsidies ) amounted up to RM50k ++++++ ( believe me, a lot of other plusses ! ) and that only for his ministers.
Pak Lah’s is way way higher !
They should revise their salary plan first.
@CJ
They should be, but we really do not know, do we? I’ve read and heard others saying that tons of money are poured into “wasteful” projects and now they have to cover their a$$e$ by reducing the petrol subsidy. We really do not know where the profits are spent. I guess that’s why many people are asking them to be transparent.
@george
I stated that the funds “can be” used for better purposes that benefit the people directly, I didn’t say “will be”. However, so far they’ve only mentioned about giving back to the people in the form of rebates. I don’t see how that can help anyone in the long run. What we seriously need is better public transportation links. Something that I fear will never happen with the present government as well.
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