Sure Or Not...!!!

I am feeling very uneasy n quite apprehensive when i read that the cabinet "decided there will be no more increase (in petrol price) this year"

The Star Online > Nation

Thursday June 12, 2008

Fuel price increases capped

By MAZWIN NIK ANIS and SIM LEOI LEOI

PUTRAJAYA: There will be no further increase to the price of fuel in the country this year. This is despite the possibility of the global price of oil reaching US$200 (RM654) per barrel, as forecast by some analysts.

This latest decision by the Cabinet came on top of various measures announced on Monday to help the Government cut costs and channel more subsidies to low-income earners.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said to stem any more increase, the Government would have to think of alternative ways to finance its spending.

“Since the Government announced the new price last week, fuel prices have gone up to US$139 per barrel and is still hovering at US$130.

“In fact, the price of oil is expected to remain at high levels in the months to come. The high price of oil means that the market price of petrol at the pumps have now reached RM3.45 per litre,” he said, pointing out that the price should be reviewed to RM3.15 per litre (with a discount of 30 sen) instead of RM2.70 beginning next month.

“However, the Government realised that the rakyat is still trying to adapt to the higher petrol prices. The Cabinet has thus decided there will be no more increase this year,” he told reporters at his office yesterday.

If the global price of petrol should ever drop, Abdullah said the Government would make the necessary adjustments with the 30 sen discount still being given.

When announcing the new petrol price on June 4, Abdullah had said that prices at the petrol pump would be adjusted monthly to reflect the global market price.

The current price for petrol is RM2.70 per litre while diesel is sold at RM2.58 per litre, following an increase of 78 sen and RM1 per litre respectively last week.

Abdullah said it had also been decided that the more than one million civil servants would receive their salaries fortnightly effective August.

“The first instalment will be in the middle of the month while the second will be at the end of the month. Deductions such as income tax and Employees’ Provident Fund will be made from the second instalment.”

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Lets take a look here. What happen to the manifesto, pledge or promise before the last general election? But when the global price reaches USD$130 or so, those learned 'analyst' out there said that it is not possible but to hike up the fuel price from our comfortable RM1.92 per liter, otherwise it will be a heavy burden for the country to subsidize the people. Some even said that the country will be running on deficit should the petrol price increase again n the government still subsidizes the people.

So now the cabinet decided that there will be no increase of fuel price here for this year despite the forecast by some analysts of the possibility of the global petrol price reaching USD$200 per barrel.

What if this "possibility" realizes next month? I mean what happen if in reality the global petrol price really reaches USD$200 per barrel?

William Shakespeare's Hamlet, he wrote "To be, or not to be, that is the Question:" Will our beloved n learned cabinet ministers might need to think

"To Raise or Not To Raise, that is the Question:"

You have given your pledge n promise that there will be no increase in petrol price in this country for this year. Will you go back on your words? Will you increase the petrol price from now RM2.70 higher despite whatever said n promised?

p.s. this is a rant by an ordinary citizen who is trying to make ends meet with his meager monthly pay check