As the effects of removal of fuel subsidy starts to bite into the pay packet of the low income group, the call for transparency into Petronas accounting of its profit and where the money goes gets louder and more vocal.

As Malaysian citizens, we all have the right to know the annual report; after all we are all shareholders. Removing the fuel subsidy is like imposing tax, which in this case is like consumption tax, meaning the quantum increases with the amount consumed. The low income group is the most affected because fuel costs take a sizable chunk of their income.

I do believe the decision to increase petrol price is correct, and in time, the government should completely remove the subsidy. But the government should do more to help the lower income group most affected.

I support DAP leader Lim Guan Eng's call for the government to give money to Malaysia's poor in the form of cash grants or social welfare payments for the needy, disabled, unemployed and low-income group. The current social welfare payment by the Social Welfare Department is too low and the poor and disabled have to supplement their income by begging on the streets. This is the time for the government to show its sincerity about the 'Caring Society' slogan.

I also would suggest to the government to legislate a form of minimum wage law, set at a rate that is enough to pay for a comfortable standard of living for our workers. Given the cost of living in the main urban areas, I would suggest that the minimum wage be set at RM1, 200 for 48 hour week or about RM5.70 per hour. Even at that rate, it's hardly enough to pay for rent, food and transportation.

Would employers be able to afford it? Of course they would say no, but corporate profits reported in the past few years suggest that employers can afford it now. It's time workers get their fair share. Dividends from companies have been increasing for the past few years, so have managers' salaries. Given the chance, bosses would rather invest in a Mercedes 'mata belalang' rather than invest in their workers. Higher wages would also encourage employers to invest in high-technology, capital intensive business, which in turn will lead to higher productivity per worker.