Khoo Kay Peng - as diligent readers of malaysiakini will know is not to be confused with the much lesser known Tan Sri of the same name - takes exception to Michael Yeoh's support of the oil price increase. Good for him. A bit of democratic expression in Gerakan is good for the soul even if not the party.

Khoo takes us through a long argument to make his case, capping it off with a couple of totally equivocal statements that misdirects from the essential argument - there should be no price hike.

It is not necessary or sufficient to argue that the mess that is Proton and the mess that is our public transport system are preconditions to reducing the fuel subsidy. Yes, these should cleared up as soon as possible, together with MAS and KTM and Tenaga and Telekom and ad nauseum.

But these arguments are, well, merely argumentative and they open the door to criticisms of the same. In strict terms of logic they are strictly tangential to the fact.

The case for no price hike and the continuation of the petrol subsidy rests squarely on the grounds of the impact on the poor and equity. We should not be afraid to argue this and only this.