He is simply sleeping

The government announces that price of RON97 petrol will go down by 15 sen from RM2.70 to RM2.55 per litre at the pumps beginning midnight, a reduction of 5.6 per litre. Meanwhile, the lower grade RON92 petrol will be slashed by 22 sen from RM2.62 to RM2.40 a litre.

For diesel, the price will go down by eight sen, from RM2.58 to RM2.50.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi made the announcement today - two days after he reiterated that petrol prices would not be cut before Aug 31.

My comment:
1)The PM is not a man of his words. He told the press that the oil price would only be adjusted on the 1st of September a few days ago although we all expect him to make the announcement prior to the by-election of Permatang Pauh. There is a saying in Chinese that the "ruler must keep his words" and obviously the PM doesn't understand the Chinese history and culture, what a failure!

2)The price adjustment was too little (we want the price to be reverted back to pre June 4th level) and too late (people think that the announcement was due to the by-election and do not have faith in BN's policies).The PM should not insult the intelligent of the Malaysian and thought that a drop of 15 sen and 8 sen per litre for petrol and diesel respectively will please the rakyat. He is simply unintelligent( to be very mild in my language).

3)The PM should not use petrol price to fish for votes in Permatang Pauh, it is not only a corrupt practise but also unethical for the PM to do so. He knows very well that the decision to raise pump prices was a mistake and the people are suffering because of his stupid mistake, so, he should stand up and do the amend and revert the wrong the decision.

The guy is sleeping away from the reality and the nation is going down the drain with him.

The fuel price-hike is killing the people

Is RM 3000.00 sufficient for a family of 4?
1) Assuming that an average family of 4 earns RM 3000.00 per month, would that income substance under the current high-inflation and slow economic conditions?
2) How many percent of the household have a monthly income of RM3000.00? Maybe only the top 25-30% salary men have such an income?
3) How can such a family change the lifestyle as every item in the list is basic and nothing extravagance at all.
4) By the following analysis, many Malaysian families would not be able to substance under the current high fuel price and high-inflation economy under the BN.
5) The conclusion that can be drawn is “Malaysian have no way out except for either a reversal of the pump prices to RM1.92 per liter and RM1.578 per liter of petrol and diesel respectively or the down fall of the BN.”

Under the following analysis, even the RM3000.00 family runs into budget deficit or RM 350.00 and its only option is to sell the car/house or let the bank repossess the vehicle or sell the house by auction.

The kids have to forgo the tuition and college is out of the question. No more KFC or Pizza Hut or McDonald or weekend’s eating out. No more Astro and no more holidays’ trip for the family.

No beauty parlor for the lady and no cosmetic of course. Don’t even think of being lay-off by the employer and hope that there is no mechanical break-down or maintenance works required for the vehicle or house.

The average Malaysian family would suffer in the time ahead and worst still, the government is simply not listening apart trying to hang on to the power.

Average monthly expenditure of the 4-members household:

Item RM
House rental/ housing loan 500
Car installment (RM30,000 loan for 5 years @ 4% interest) 600
Petrol plus school bus 250
Insurances 200
Utility bills. Sesco, Water and others 150
Food Breakfast RM7-breakfast, RM 15 -lunch & dinner(RM37/day) 1100
Tuition for kids @RM100 each 200
Medical bills 50
Telephone bills RM50 each for adult 100
Entertainments such as coffee shop break @ RM 100 each for adult 200

Total 3350

Abdullah says "Thank You" and we say "No thanks to U"

In conjunction with the national level Gawai Dayak celebration, the prime minister flew in to the Land of the Hornbill on the 14th June 2008. During the speech addressed to the people, he thanks the Sarawakian for giving their total support to the BN in the 308 general election. The overwhelming support of the Sarawakian made Sarawak BN the biggest winner and contributed 30 out of the 31 parliamentary seats to the BN.


The PM obviously lost sight of the fact that most of the Sarawakian have regretted for having given the BN such support for in less than 90 days, the BN government announced the biggest fuel prices hike on the 4th of June 2008. The pump price for petrol and diesel was raised by 78 sen per litre and RM 1.00 per litre respectively.


The fuel prices hike was most unexpected by the Sarawakian as even the minister of Domestic Trade had announced just on the 2nd of June that the price of fuels would be adjusted in August. Furthermore, Sarawakian are of the opinion that we should not be made to suffer when we produce 1/3 of the nation oils and gas which had benefited the state oil, Petronas, and the federal government. In simple calculation, Sarawak contributed around RM 30 billions last year and we were paid the oil royalty of only 5 % since the early 70's. Even a primary school student knows that every Sarawakain would get around RM 12,000 per annum if the total amount (RM 30 billion) is to be evenly distributed to all the Sarawakian.

Furthermore, the inflation spiral caused by the fuel prices hike would increase the number of Malaysian living in poverty , failing businesses, unemployment, crimes and family and social problems. All these could not be negated by a simple "thank you" from the PM who had made the decision hastily without sparing a thought to the people that would be affected.


If the PM asks any Sarawakian, he/she would say "No thanks, we do not accept it and lets hold another election now if you want to know how we feel". We will do whatever we feel is appropriate until the BN government reverse its decision. So to the PM, I would say "Please stand down and reverse the fuel price hike decision immediately"



David Wong
DAP Sarawak publicity sec.,
16-06-2008

DAP Sarawak plans public demo in Sibu (Mandarin text)

News cutting from Sin Chew Zit Poh
抗議百物上漲火箭擬和平請願
（詩巫10日訊）行動黨砂聯委會宣傳秘書黃培根透露，行動黨將在全砂舉行和平請願，抗議油價、米價及百物上漲，并邀請全民參與，表達心聲。他說，行動黨目前正在全砂各地包括古晉、詩巫及民都魯籌備著和平請願運動。該和平請願將會是非暴力，具有組織性的。“當人民上街和平請願時，警方無須動用大批警力對付人民。反之有關當局應以開明的態度看待公平請願運動，讓人民有管道抒發心中的感想。”他指出，詩巫的和平請願運動將於7月12日之前舉行，至於地點的選擇包括詩巫城市廣場及詩巫之窗。“請願地點未決定，但是一定會選擇最多人潮的地方。至於和平請願的形式，我們仍未決定是采用游行或集會方式，不過肯定的是屆時我們將會拉布條及向人民發言。”他說，配合該和平請願，行動黨將會設計約1千件的T恤，以不賺取盈利的方式出售給人民。T恤上有3種顏色，即白色（白底）、紅色（字體）及藍色。“我們將在和平請願之前就率先出售T恤，我們希望人民踴躍購買T恤，不過至於沒有購買T恤者當然也可以出席和平請願。”他透露，該和平請願并非屬於行動黨，而是屬全人民的。所以在T恤設計上并不會出現行動黨的黨徽及字眼。“和平請願運動只是人民表達意見的一種方式，而且保證不會涉及暴力，所以我們認為不需要向警方申請準證。況且警方已透露絕對不會發出準證，所以我們就索性不提出申請。”在詢及在沒有申請準證的情況下，行動黨一行人會否擔心被警方逮捕時，黃培根說行動黨絕對不會害怕坐牢。“我們的目的是表達人民的心聲，若警方放著罪犯不捉，而要來對付我們，那就悉聽尊便吧！”

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