I beg to disagree with those who claim that the price of oil in our country is cheaper when compared to other countries. When compared to the US, for example, ours is not really cheaper comparatively.

Our petrol here in Malaysia is US$2.29 per gallon (RM1.92 x 4.54L = RM8.7168/RM3.8 = US$2.29). In US, the price is US$2.35.

We should consider that the standard of living is generally very high in the US. In US, the salary of an average worker is, for example, say US$1,500 per month and they pay US$2.35 per gallon of petrol.

If a Malaysian worker is getting a monthly salary of RM1,500, he has to pay RM8.7168 per gallon of petrol. Thus comparing one US dollar to one ringgit, you see that we are paying four times the price of the petrol in Malaysia.

And all other things are much more expensive here with all the taxes. Try looking at a website in the US for a new BMW 325. It only cost in the region of US$30,000 in the US. Can we get the same car for RM30,000 here? Even if you convert to ringgit, US$30,000 would probably get you only half the car!