'If there is less wastage and leakages through corruption, the rakyat don't have to end up suffering like this. Wage earners are made to suffer and were told to change their lifestyle. Why don't you change yours?'

5-in-1 price hike: Fuel, sugar and gas up

Permerhati: There is a lot of wasteful expenditure by the government. Recently it was stated by a parliamentarian that, "Taiwan, with a population similar to us at 28 million, has only 530,000 government employees. Japan with a 120 million population employs 380,000 civil servants. But Malaysia, with a population of 28 million, has a civil service of 1.2 million."

Going by the above figures we probably only need about 500,000 government employees and 700,000 of those extra people should be in the private sector. This would save us billions of ringgit annually and reduce our dependence on foreign workers.

Other areas where billions could be saved is by cutting down on unnecessary, unproductive and inflated mega-projects (like the new palace) and unnecessary expensive armaments (like the submarines) as these also entail millions of ringgit in wasteful annual recurrent expenditure. If we had an enlightened and a clean government, the people would not be burdened unnecessarily like now.

Nice1link: So they're sticking to Idris Jala's plan after all - from June to December 2010, petrol to increase 15 sen per liter, and diesel, 10 sen per liter. Brace for more increases.

Anonymous: I talked to a businessman the other day. He told me that house prices escalated by more than 100 percent over the past 20 years. This indicates inflationary pressure. However, he said that he can get a graduate engineer for the same salary he paid 20 years ago. This shows inflation is outstripping income by more than 100 percent.

So all you ministers out there, don't tell me that you are so blind and stupid as not to see that the number of Malaysians in the low-income group have risen by 100 percent.

Lim Cheng Inn: This is what you get for voting BN. Wage earners are made to suffer and were told to change their lifestyle. Why don't you change yours? This is the result of BN's plundering that left us to pay more for basic necessities.

Bennie: Why give RM500,000 to each MP to spend, and worse still only to BN MPs directly and not to all MPs. This is very one-sided and a move to gain political mileage. The citizens can read BN's true intention. Put your own house in order, and go for an austerity-driven Budget 2011.

Phan Gaik Cher: This is the price you pay when you get a government as corrupt as BN. For these politicians who have plundered millions, what is 5 sen increase to them? If there is less wastage and leakages through corruption in the government, the rakyat don't have to end up suffering like this. The battle cry gets louder by the day. We had better kick BN out before they bankrupt the nation.

Tkc: Mr PM, let's make a deal. "You help us, we help you." You help us by giving us public transportation that works; closing down Proton so that we can have cheaper and better cars; reducing road tax and toll rates; eliminating annual driving licence fees; introducing Euro 4 diesel; stopping APs; etc. We help you by changing our lifestyle and tightening our belts.

AkuMelayu: I think the price adjustments (repeat: adjustments and not increase) is justified. How long more do we need to be a society that lives on subsidy?

The increase is only a pittance to Malaysians who are known to be well-paid. They are big spenders judging by the way they splash their wealth on big houses and cars. They also spent their vacations overseas. They even donate generously to the gaming establishments by gambling away three times a week and visit the casinos weekly.

I don't understand why some people can be so fussy as refusing to pay a few sen more for their food when they are generously contributing to the coffers of gambling firms.

Beetle: What happened to the RM4 billion saved from the last fuel price increase? Didn't our PM says that the money will be used for improving public transport? How has the public transport improved? Prove to us and show us the figure.

Abil: It's ridiculous to say that the reason to hike prices of essential items and the removal of subsidies is because foreigners are enjoying the benefit too. Foreigners are here because our country needs them to produce goods and products at a cheaper cost. The government and the country benefit by lower wages.

If the country is transparent in its contracts and there are no leakages in delivery then it is apt to consider hiking the price of goods. There is a growing gap between the lower middle income and the rich, causing it very difficult for low income group to survive.

Ferdtan: What to expect from BN government? Can buy submarines which cannot submerged worth RM7 billion to fight with whom? Can give so generous commission of RM500 million to a crony middleman. Now that middle man is enjoying all that money overseas.

No wonder the BN government is now bankrupt and need to increase the fuel price. Let's vote BN out and give the Pakatan Rakyat a chance to rule in the next GE. Selangor, with the passing of the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill shows Pakatan can be transparent and accountable.

Rakyat Malaysia: Inflation goes up like nobody's business. The BN government is not doing anything to ease the escalating cost. Now it wants to dig for more money from rakyat to keep their lofty palace and Parliament and feed their expensive lifestyle.

The rakyat is "killed" at the expense of keeping BN goverment alive. This definitely will not go well with everyone in Malaysia. The BN government should ‘ubah gaya hidup' (change its lifestyle).

Loyal Malaysian: Yes, if the need is there, the rakyat has to bite the bullet. But don't go splurging the rakyat money on armoured carrier, paid holidays for those jumping toads, etc. The government must lead by example.

Joe: No action on corruption. Spend on fancy palace. Buy worthless submarines. Spend on monuments. Cut back on PSD (Public Service Department) scholarships. Raise prices of necessities. BN = Barang Naik + Bankrupt Nation.

MySecret: To make the price hike announcement just after Parliament ends says a lot about this BN government. Like thieves in the night, they just can't face the true rakyat's keeper.

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