Petrol oh Petrol!!! The Never Ending Issue

As reported: -
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The drop in the local retail oil price expected at the end of this month will not exceed 15 sen. Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad who disclosed this, said a drop of that amount was made to avoid sudden losses, especially for the petrol station operators nationwide.
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http://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/bnm/20081025/tts-shahrir-oil-bm-993ba14.html

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Frankly speaking, I do not know how exactly the petrol station operators doing their business. But from what I know, they only earn a small percentage of the petrol sold to the consumers. the petrol station rental is based on their petrol and diesel’s sales volume.
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But what really puzzled me with the above news report is that is it real that a sudden drop of oil prices can cause sudden losses to the petrol station operators nationwide? If it is true as reported, then logically speaking, these petrol station operators must have recorded a huge profits when the price of the petrol was increased from RM1.92 per litre to RM2.70 per litre. So, if they have recorded such a huge profits, why can’t they suffer losses? I wonder why???

Petrol Now is RM2.20 (and Not RM2.55). It was RM2.35 (and Never RM2.70)

Who said our petrol price was RM2.70 per litre? It has never been that way!!! I was made to understand from Najib that the RM625 rebate that the government “generously” gave to owners of vehicles of 2000 cc and below after they made the sudden increase in June this year is equivalent to between 35 sen and 40 sen per litre. Meaning to say, what this idiot Najib is suggesting is that when the price of petrol was increased in June this year, it was actually RM2.35 per litre and not RM2.70 as it seems to be. And now with the price has been reduced by 15 sen per litre, the new price is actually RM2.20 sen per litre and not RM2.55 per litre as appeared on the pump.
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He said that when he was responding to a question about people’s unhappiness about the small reduce of the petrol price. This is exactly what was reported in The Star: -
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“The rebate, if translated, will be equivalent to a subsidy of between 35 sen and 40 sen a litre. If the people do not appreciate the rebates, it is better for us not to give rebates in the future,” he said.
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This idiot Najib also said this: -
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“the Government could channel the rebates into subsidies to reduce pump prices but this would not be fair to lower income groups”

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And this: -

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“We do not want to resort to such measures because people driving big cars such as Bentley, Jaguar and BMW 7 series will also enjoy the subsidies,”

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http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/8/24/nation/22160467&sec=nation

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Thank you Najib for telling us this. Yes, I know that the people should be grateful for the lower petrol price. Thank you very much. The government has been damn kind and generous and concern about the people. Thank you once again for understanding our problem. But I think while we, the people should be grateful with the lower petrol price, I think you, idiot Najib and your gang(sters) in the government should be ten (10) times (if not more) grateful, as it was the people who put you idiot up there. So, please, please and please, do not ever threaten the people. You just made a big mistake in your life. How can you ask the people to be grateful when the reduction in the petrol price was politically motivated? When your boss, Si Bedol said that he will not reduce the petrol price until Sept, 1, why suddenly he changed his mind and have it earlier before the Permatang Pauh by-election? The reduce by a mere 15 sen is a very clear evidence that it was not done to lighten the burden of the people but rather it was a political strategy to win the heart of the people especially the voters in Permatang Pauh. So, my question to you, Najib the idiot, why do people need to be grateful when you are not sincere?
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Now, to prove your idiotness Najib, let me tell you this. You said that the government could channel the rebate to reduce the petrol price but that will be unfair to the lower income group as those who are driving Jagusr, Bentley and BMW 7 series will also enjoy the subsidy. Hei! Whatever car they are driving, they are still Malaysian you know? So, why do you need to differentiate people??? And is it fair for us, the Malaysian when the Singaporean are enjoying petrol at the same price as what we pay? Is that fair???
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On the RM625 rebate equivalent to RM0.35 to RM0.40 per litre. Let me calculate for you (if you are too dumb to calculate). If we take RM0.35 per litre, the rebate of RM625 is equivalent to 1785 litre. Take me as an example. I am driving a 35 litre car. In a month, I fuel in average 210 litres of petrol into my car tank (provided there is no long distance travelling). So, if in one (1) month I fuel in 210 litres, in nine (9) months my car will consume a total of 1890 litres of petrol, an excess of 105 litres. So, meaning to say, while for the first nine (9) months after the rebate, I pay RM2.35 per litre, for the final three (3) months, I have to pay RM2.70 a litre (or RM2.55 as it is now). And how can that be fair to lower and middle income people when after few months, we have to pay exactly the same price as those people driving Jaguar, Bentley and BMW 7 series, as you named it? And to make it worst, we are paying exactly the same price as the foreigners do.
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By the way, Najib the idiot, let me be frank to you. You are actually a moron who does not know how to appreciate people who voted you in. Why can’t you be frank to the people that the government had no intention at all to extend the RM625 fuel rebate for subsequent years? You threaten people now so that later the government can justify its decision not to give more rebates because the people were ungrateful. You thought you are brilliant when in fact you are just an idiot moron.
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While you think that way, we the people (who have power to decide who should run the country) this way. The people gave you another opportunity (just like you gave them rebate) to lead them and you screw it up, Big times. You are not grateful for that (as what you thought that people are not grateful for the rebate). And next the people will vote you out (as what you threatened that there is no more rebate).

Too Good To be Funny

It is Not So Convenient, says Shahrir Samad

(Photo taken from The Star online)

Shahrir Samad seen in this picture disembarked from the ERL Transit in Putrajaya. It was reported in The Star that Shahrir Samad is a frequent user of ERL Link from KL Sentral to KLIA. When the photo was taken, it was his second day using the ERL Transit from his house in Taman Tunku to his office in Putrajaya and his comment after two (2) days is: -

“It’s not so convenient since there is no bus connection from my house to KL Sentral to take the ERL to Putrajaya. My wife has to send me to KL Sentral and my driver picks me up in Putrajaya."

He will bring this matter up at the Cabinet meeting today. Well, seems like a good effort or attempt in trying to understand the people's problem with public transport. But is that enough? Few things to ponder: -

(1) What is the issue that he wants to raise at the Cabinet meeting? No bus connection from his house to KL Sentral? Come on!!! Anybody in Taman Tunku need a bus ride? He must be joking right?

(2) He is a frequent user of ERL Express. How did he go to KL Sentral fro his house all these while? Don't you think that he should have realised that there is no bus connecting his residential area to KL Sentral (if one is needed) without the need for him to take the two (2) days trial?

(3) If what he meant by the phrase "it is not so convenient" is the condition in the ERL, my advice to him, wait until you take a ride in our Star and Putra LRT during peak hours. Then only you will appreciate the inconvenience that you have in the ERL. I think the Ministers including the PM and his deputy should take a ride in our two (2) LRTs during peak hours without any VIP treatment, I mean take a ride as a normal citizen of Malaysia to better understand our public transportation problem. To understand it better, they also need to take a ride in our public buses.

(4) At least for Shahrir, his wife sends him to KL Sentral and his driver picks him up in Putrajaya station. What he should have done is take a bus from the station to his office, by then, his comment, I guess would have been "it is really not so convenient..." So, the issue may change from the mere absence of public bus in certain area to the quality of our public transportation.

(5) I wonder what will be the Cabinet's reaction on this issue, if at all, Shahrir Samad does raise up this matter in the Cabinet's meeting?

To deviate from the above topic, many years ago, there was an annoucement made that the operator of Putra LRT would be buying more coaches to ease the difficulties and uncomfortability of the commuters using the LRT. In fact, end of last year, I wrote an email complaining, among others about the condition in the LRT to RapidKL customer service. I only received their reponse after I sent a follow up email to their then CEO, Rein Weistra, a Dutch. Their response was the standard one i.e. that they have made booking to purchase more coaches and they were still waiting. I guess, they are waiting for the moon to fall on their laps (bulan jatuh ke riba). After so many years in operation, the Putra LRT still running with the two (2) very short coaches for every train though the number of passengers has increased tremendously. In fact the operation of our two (2) LRTs i.e. Putra and Star are getting from bad to worse. What does the government plan to do about it? In 2005 when the government increased the petrol price by RM0.30 to RM1.92 per litre, the government said that they would use the subsidy saved by the increase of the petrol price (amounting to few billion Ringgit) to upgrade our public transportation system. My foot!!! What upgrading were they talking about after three (3) years? I saw some changes were made but not improvement. If at all they (the government) are talking about improvement, it could be the introduction of RapidPenang. I have no idea to what extent the public transportation in Penang has improved with the introduction of RapidPenang but talking about the changes made in Kuala Lumpur, from what I noticed, before the changes were made, people in my area needed to take only one (1) bus to go to Kuala Lumpur but with the changes, they need to take at least three (3) buses to go to Kuala Lumpur. This is the service provided by RapidKL. So, is it improvement or inconvenience? I wonder where did the subsidy money went that were meant to upgrade the transportation system three (3) years ago?

On another note, Shahrir Samad said that petrol money used as subsidy in many areas and that Petronas has been helping the government all these while. Click here http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/6/11/nation/21518642&sec=nation. I quote what he said: -

“Ever since the fuel price increase was announced, people have been demanding to know why Petronas is not helping out. What they don’t know is that the company has been helping out all this while...Petronas is helping out. Let me assure you of that.”

Anybody wants to believe what Shahrir Samad said? Well, it may be true in one sense but I do not trust this guy. He was a different Shahrir Samad who used to be vocal and a man of principle when he was the Chairman of the Backbenchers. Remember the day when he quit his post as the PAC Chairman due to lack of supprt from the members in last term? If he is the same Shahrir Samad today, I believe he would have relinquished his position as a Minister when government decided to uplift the ban on foreign vehicle buying our petrol and the effective date of the petrol price increase. Now, he is wearing different hat altogether ever since he was appointed as a full Minister. Remember few days before the Fuel Price Increase Day that he said that the petrol price would be increased in August and when asked on Pak Lah statement that the price would be increased with immediate effect on 4/6/2008, he said that he did not see his statement and that of Pak Lah being inconsistent. What the heck!!! And now he is expecting us to believe him when he said "Let me assure you of that". Once a liar, you are always a liar.

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Curi apa? Tepuk dada tanyalah hati...

Let's Celebrate the Fuel Price Increase Day

I want to write about the price increase...but I just do not know where to start because there are so many issues in my head. The excuse behind the increase, the real reason behind it, the inconsistent act and statement made by the government, the bluff, etc..etc..I am so frustrated, mad and many more feelings of that sort with the government. Simply because such a move by the government who cares about the people will affect almost everything.

The government announced that they will sort of absorbing the hardship that the middle class citizens are suffering by paying RM625 on annual basis. The question is, how long does the government will continue to make the payment? Whether the amount of RM625 is fixed or adjustable according to the fuel price and the subsidised amount? The government also announced they will be reveiwing the fuel price on monthly basis. Click here http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/6/5/nation/21461533&sec=nation. So, are the going to review the RM625 on monthly basis too? Some might say, the government won't do that, as it is cumbersome for them to do that. Let me tell you something. Just a few days ago, the government announced the ban on foreign vehicles from buying petrol near the border but in today's newspaper, Shahrir Samad annouced that the government has uplifted the ban. Click here http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/6/5/nation/21463370&sec=nation. See my point? Our government nowadays, they do not have proper plan. They do whatever they think at that time and that same decision may be changed as and when they like. Even few days ago, Shahrir even said the increase will take effect in August but suddenly things changed it took effect immediately. Click here http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/6/4/nation/21444347&sec=nation. So, my point is, the government nowadays can do whatever they like just like that. They do not have to think far. Do not take whatever annoucement made by the government at the face value and as good because they are able make a u-turn at any time they wish.

So, my dear friends out there, let us remember today, the 5th June 2008 as the Fuel Price Increase Day and if the government is to increase the fuel price in the future, they can do it on its anniversary. Put it in your calendar.