Fuel subsidies.
It appears foreign cars, especially Singaporean and Thai cars, can say bye bye to pumping subsidised Malaysian petrol after the PM makes his announcement tomorrow!
My brother will be one of those to fall victim to this policy and he has written to me about this. I’m reproducing it below :)
By the way, I saw the article on Abdullah saying that foreigners should pay for non-subsidised petrol. I will agree with him on his narrow point, but there is always a bigger picture to look at.
I have a question to the “brains” of the anti-inflation committee. How much petrol or diesel is being pumped by foreigners and the subsidy equated to it? Compare the size of it to our total country oil subsidy to see what is the amount and per centage gone to foreign registered vehicles. They will also need to compare that to the tourism revenue earned from Singapore and Thailand.
Somehow or rather, I feel that this is a diversion tactic, as in to divert attention from themselves with all the internal bickering, wayang, corruption calls, PM step down, noisy Mahathir and Pedra Branca. We all know the goverment will not raise petrol price after what happened in March. Putting the blame on foreigners (which is a standard tactic during crisis time) is a quick and easy way to get out of the fire.
Economics-wise, the government has little choice but to raise petrol, gas and diesel prices as subsidies is a drain to our country’s financial reserve. However, all this should not be an issue had our country’s reserves been better managed. All the wastage in the past (and present) are costing the country big time.
Unfortunately, we have people who believe that we should not look and learn from more successful countries. They even have the cheek to say …. their country is different from ours. To not be able to learn and evolve is to be extinct. The globalised world has no place for Jaguh Kampungs.
How do you all think the restructured fuel subsidies will affect you? Please share :)
June 2nd, 2008 at 11:04 pm
If the fuel subsidy is an issue, i think it’s more a northern issue rather than a southern issue. Spore has 3/4 tank rule for all spore-registered vehicles leaving spore. Furthermore smuggling into spore can be ruled out. Smuggling into thailand can be substantial though.
This sort of issue, the gov should just study the pros and cons and decide. No need so much wayang. As usual, huru-hara style.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:33 am
In actual reality, there can only be two to choose from for the Malays.
Ultra-right wing Capitalism vs Left-wing liberalism.
Centralism or Moderates are for wimps or people who are unsure or lack of confidence or ignorant and confused people.
If you believe in duality of cosmic forces that exists in our universe, then read on.
The ancient Egyptians and Chinese believe the existence of such forces.
Here are the examples:
Yin vs Yang
Negative vs Positive
Dark vs Light
Proposer vs Opposer
Arts,Social Science, Business students vs Science and Technology students
The art way of attaining power vs The science way of attaining power
Majority-Democracy vs Minority-Socialism
Consumer society vs Producer society
Capitalists vs Production Workers
Profits before people vs
People before profits
Capitalism vs Socialism
Female vs Male
Cold vs Hot
Politicians vs Technocrats-leaders
An inverted pyramid human food chain vs Pyramid human food chain
USA vs China
West vs East
Water-Wood vs Fire-Earth
Bankers-Water vs Intellectuals-Fire
Ketuanan Melayu Ultra-Kapitalist-UMNO-BN
vs
Ketuanan Islam Kebajikan-PR
You can only choose one.
There can only be one that can be placed at the top of the human food chain in your society or nation.
So choose wisely.
June 3rd, 2008 at 1:48 pm
I am all for malaysian citizen paid oil subsidies to belong to Malaysians. Well I say, GOOD MOVE and ABOUT TIME! We dont have petrol to last us another million years, so this is a way to reserve our precious subsideized fuel for the future also. A little bit goes a long way. And your brother says that wastage occurs, well yes it does, and at least they are doing something about it NOW.
But what can I say about the Malaysian citizens who have spore registered cars? Well, choose to enjoy fuel subsidy or paying the spore entrance fee, that’s what. The world isnt fair, why should they get best from both worlds eh?
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:27 pm
awesome much. subsidies for malaysians!
i had this debate in class; we concluded that the best way is to provide IC. you show your Malaysian IC, you get subsidy. you show Spore IC, you get no subsidy.
question is, how about spore tourists who roam malaysia and need petrol?
what do you guys think?
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:35 pm
phillix. aiyo you ar… The people who roam may and CAN buy petrol in malaysia. The ruling is only in border towns in malaysia leh. Like JB. SO they CAN buy petrol for example when they are in KL. :P
The thing about different fuel prices for different people CAN be implemented once our petrol pumps have a proper system up. Good idea too. But that saying we are saving our poor malaysian friends who are spore PR status. Aiyoooo…. Dont you think you earn sing dollars you should pay sing dollars for the petrol also lah!?