Malaysians in general are not happy with the 30 sen increase in petrol price, not because of the increase itself but the feeling of unfairness. Can the RM4 billion saved in subsidies improve public transport in anyway? One more LRT line? Or splurge it all on buses that do not run on time?

Somehow, the feeling is that the poor man will come out poorer after this increase, and the rich who are able and connected will somehow get around it. Corruption and profiteering will jump to another level.

It is the unequal and opaque distribution of the economic goods that hampers any price increase. Singapore and Thailand, our two immediate neighbours, have petrol and diesel prices that are much higher than ours, yet there is hardly any whimper there.

Any sitting government that stays on too long will feel as if they own the country and continue to shove things down our throat. Maybe when we rotate them a little, they will learn to listen to the ones they are supposed to serve. Then petrol at the true price of RM3.20 a litre will be more palatable for all.