Damage control, the BN's ways?

Now that the people have spoken loud and clear against the horrifies fuel price hike announced by the PM on the 4Th June 2008, the governments are busy putting out bush fires(rallies and protests) across the country, from Kuala Lumpur to Sabah and Sarawak.

Days ago, the PM said he can't commit himself that he would not raise the fuel prices in the near future as the international cruel oil price is too volatile. But yesterday, he announced that the fuel prices would not increase this year. So which statement is to be taken by the people as "truthful"? Malaysian in general have lost the confidence in the BN government and this could be the most serious setback of the PM, serious enough for the people to call for his replacement, people such as Tun Dr. M and many UMNO leaders are all very vocal in this matter.

When the heat is unbearable, where and whom did the PM turn to? Sabah and Sarawak of course as these two states have more than enough MPs to topple the BN government. Anwar, the de facto leader of the PKR had on many occasions stated that he has enough number of MPs to form the next government and Sabah was mentioned as the key to the BN's defection if indeed what he said was true.

So the PM had to visit Sabah and brought them 6 presents including a RM 1.0 billion special PM's development fund. Then came Sarawak, whose CM said Sarawak should get the same or more from the federal government as sabah. The PM came to Kuching on the 10th June and announced among others the RM1.0 billion fund for the state also.

Now that the MPs from Sabah and Sarawak are been "bought" by the promise, and i do mean promise, the PM can at least have a few restful nights until the heat of the UMNO general assembly catches up with him again. But with the latest hike of fuel prices, political analysts feel that the road to UMNO's presidency is long and winding for Abdullah as many of the UMNO grassroots are angry over the fuel price hike which was the steepest in history.

No damage control is sufficient to cover the damages done by the BN's fuel price hike. The ordinary folks just wonder "how are we going to survive?" and the answer certainly lies deep in the chests of all Malaysian regardless of religious and cultural background. Malaysian have never been more united before and that the PM must take note and take care.

David Wong
13-06-2008