I believe that both Ah Chong in Rakyat must question RM4.4 bil allocation and the prime minister have used the word 'question' in different contexts and the both of them are very well aware of it. Ah Chong was stressing on transparency while the PM was reassuring the rakyat that the money would be used to improve public transport as promised and not for other purposes.

The deputy prime minister has said that the money was not for bailing out Malaysia Airlines or other GLCs but at the same time the government has approved a RM2 billion loan to Malaysia Airlines. It is imperative then that the government ensures that there are ways of accounting to the rakyat that the RM4.4bn is actually spent on improving public transport so as to avoid unnecessary allegations by the rakyat and the opposition in the future.

A reminder, too, to MAS' managing director Idris Jala that RM2 billion is a good 1.6% of Malaysia's annual budget expenditure of RM125 billion. I believe there are few governments in the world that are as generous. Then again Khazanah Nasional Bhd has a stake in Malaysia Airlines so 'generous' may be an inappropriate word.

There is one other point I wish to raise. Pardon me if I have been misinformed but from what I gather, the RM4.4 billion in subsidy savings is 'per year'. Even if oil prices, inflation levels and domestic oil consumption and production were to fluctuate in the next two or three years, the savings to the government would still run into billions of ringgit per year as a result of the last increase in petrol price.

So in the two to three years till the next general election, there will be a total of about RM8 to12 billion savings from the reduced subsidy. Has the PM promised to spend only the subsidy savings from this year on public transport? What about the savings from the next two to three years? How will those be allocated?

I reckon that if the PM follows his current plan of improving public transport nationwide to benefit everyone and not just people in the Klang Valley, RM4.4 billion would be inadequate in the long run. As such, the money from the future savings should continue to be invested in upgrading nationwide public transport.

Whatever the case, I am waiting to see concrete action Pak Lah. 'Cakap mesti serupa bikin, kan?'