Out of control

The prices of fuel went up only last week. Immediately, the selling tags of other consumers' items began to spiral.

Everybody is feeling the pinch. Before the price hike of petrol, my full tank costs me only a little bit less than RM100. Now, its about RM145. For a 2-liter car which is supposed to get a rebate of RM625 from the government (average RM50 per month), it is TOOOOOOOOO much!

Shahrir Samad, our Domestic Trade and Consumers' Affair Minister - in playing numb to his stupid statement last Tuesday evening - has issued out stern warnings to manufacturers, operators and traders not to increase prices at their own wish.

Blast you! Even the government did not consult any consumers' association, the NGOs and related parties before announcing the new prices of fuel.

Why should you tell those manufacturers and traders not to do so when they are already feeling the heat? Leaving them with no choice, they are now choking the consumers?

Who to blame? The Yankees who invaded Iraq?

Blimmey... we are a net exporter of petroleum. Had the increased been minimal, it would be comforting for everybody.

Now Shahrir, how can you ensure that the consumers will be protected from these errant traders? You got enough enforcement officers? Or you expect the public to make calls every now and then to your respectives agencies complaining about 'naik harga'.

Malaysians are living on tight budgets, Datuk Shahrir. You should go to any wet markets in the Klang Valley, explore for yourself the agony of 'trying to save a sen' now being experienced by our laymen.

No... we dont think so. Pak Lah, Shahrir, Najib, Hishamuddin and maybe the rest of the Cabinet members dont go to 'pasar ikan'. They've got their own 'machai' doing it for them.

No matter how expensive it is, do they really care?

They dont care at all! Why? Because our leaders are all well-off. Most of them are already rich before joining the Cabinet. They are sons of ex-premier, ex-party leaders, ex-high-ranking government officials, tycoons, etc.

There is no more 'pemimpin berjiwa rakyat' in Malaysia. They never went through what others had - not enough to eat and wear'.

Remember Lobo's song 'Armstrong'?
Like a boy in Chicago
Playing in the streets
Not enough to wear
Not mere enough to eat
But dont u know he heard it
On that July afternoon
That a man named Armstrong
Walked upon the moon.

The US then was busy with its moon and space expedition, leaving most of the blacks in hardship. No matter how much the government spent on such a program, the people had got nothing much to say... just watch.

Now that Malaysia, too, is busy with its development programs, its corridors, space venture, etc.

Price increase is becoming an asset to attain the status of a developed nation, right? Suit yourself and face the consequences then...