As a Malaysian citizen earning a fixed monthly income, I already spend approximately 33 percent of my RM5,000 monthly salary on my car loan repayment plus fuel ie, RM1,500 for car loan repayment (for a RM100,000 vehicle) and RM250 for fuel (I average 25000 km per year on the road).

This is in an environment where cars prices include a very heavy import tax component while fuel is highly subsidised. If we break down the figures, I am actually paying RM500 more for my car loan payment compared to the amount payable under a free-trade car market environment.

But I am paying less for my fuel because of fuel subsidies. I should be paying RM400. Therefore, after taking away this extra RM150 from the RM1,500 (car loan installment), I am still paying RM350 per month more than what I should be paying.

As such - in our unique Malaysian case - the rich actually pay more in car tax and financing costs when they buy their vehicles. The car financing companies and banks also get richer without any effort.

Thus, the contention by some that the rich man with a greater number of cars will benefit more from the oil subsidies than a poor man with a single vehicle certainly does not hold water - not in Malaysia.

So fine. As a person who subscribes to proper valuation of non-renewable resources, let's remove fuel subsidies totally. But by the same token, make sure we citizens also get to buy our cars at free-market prices. (This will also have the added benefit of eliminating the AP problem).

It is meaningless to talk about a free-fuel market and not talk about a free market in those sectors consuming the fuel be they cars, manufacturing industry etc. Otherwise, market distortions are just being transferred from one sector to another.