The ruling party has given the impression that they care about the people's strong feelings about the fuel price hike, and therefore their 'people's representatives' will go out to 'explain' the government's decision to the people.

Most sensible people - which means most Malaysians - understand that there is no such thing as a free lunch in this world. Most can accept that the hike was inevitable. That is not their real grievance.

What most people are angry about is this: Why is it that the people cannot benefit directly from the country's rich oil reserves? Given that we are an oil-exporting country, why can't we just keep our oil export for our own use?

Practically, the question is why do the common people have to bear the burden of rising oil prices, while the exact opposite - the benefit - is being enjoyed by the national oil company, Petronas (and all those who benefit from the global fuel price hike, directly and indirectly, who tend to be the rich and powerful)?

Until the BN politicians can give an honest and non-intelligence-insulting answer to the people on these obvious questions, they might as well save their 'gas' and forget about reaching out to 'explain' to the people.