'Pak Lah, you can lead the way to reduce the carbon footprint of government officials at the very least and then perhaps, you may be in a better position to urge us to follow suit.'

So said one Malaysiakini reader. Others have similar suggestions in the wake of hefty hikes in petrol prices this week.

Yusri Nuqman: Since the government has asked us, the rakyat, to change our lifestyle to the extend that we should eat ubi keledek, I’d like to ask the prime minister and country leadership to change their lifestyles, too.

No more first-class flights for all ministers and government servants. Government officers going out of town must travel by train or bus whenever possible - though cheap, the quality is acceptable. Ministers and MPs must use public transport like KTM Komuter, LRT, bus and taxi to office. Then they will realise that public transport facilities are bad and inadequate; and that’s why rakyat has to continue burning their pockets driving to office.

Government staff - regardless of their hierarchy - to share a hotel room with colleagues during official trips. Use teleconferencing for meetings when it involves officers in different parts of the country - what is the Malaysian Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit (Mampu) doing?

No more purchasing through appointed vendors when items can be bought directly (eg. books, computers, camera can be bought online). Don’t wear suits in the office; air-cond temperatures can be reduced and thus electricity cost.

Reduce protocols in ministerial events so time and money can be saved. Don’t give ministers any expensive gifts when officiating at ceremonies. Stop renovating offices for no reasons. Stop buying expensive cars (many government agencies are using SUVs now) and use Proton cars instead. Recycle paper and stop the any kind of wastage. Do it for our Earth.

Kogee: I don't mind on the fuel hike because it reflects the international market rate. It is also time for Malaysians to learn not to depend on subsidies. However, as a citizen and taxpayer of Malaysia, I have the right to know how the money saved for fuel subsidy will be used for development.

A detailed account of how this money had been or would be spent should be shown to the public for transparency as this will also avoid misuse and corruption. Our government should also emphasise on upgrading our public transportation system. Our public transportation sucks big time.

It is also high time for our government to scrap the tolls and reduce the individual tax and excise duty on passenger vehicles. Why should we be paying for market rate fuel when we also have to pay high excise duty for vehicles plus a high toll rate ?

And we should also stop comparing our fuel price with countries like Singapore and UK because in term of percentage, their fuel price is cheaper compared to their currencies and higher income levels.

Meng: There should be a concerted effort to use our taxpayers money towards having an efficient public transport system. I have never in all my life in Malaysia seen any effort in making our transport system public-friendly - one that is on time, efficient and clean.

Contracts for public transportation have always been seen as yet another opportunity for the BN supporters to make money and get lucrative contracts. There has now got to be a concerted effort to make local townships friendly towards pedestrians and bicycles.

Not only will a ‘Bicycle and Pedestrian’ programme help in saving costs for the public, it will improve health conditions as less cars mean less smog emissions. The public will also have better cardiovascular health as they exercise more. It’s an all-round ‘win-win’ situation.

JVS:

Dear prime minister, have you done your best to provide us with low-carbon alternatives? Were there any plans to incorporate energy-efficient design within Putrajaya when it was built and is there a need for that many streetlights in Putrajaya?

Have we incorporated low-carbon requirements in town planning policies that will reduce our dependency on private vehicles by ensuring proper public transport networks in new developments?

Was all this done to create cities/towns where public transportation would be a viable option for those of us who would very much like to adopt low-carbon lifestyles? Yes Pak Lah, we should indeed make changes to our lifestyle and perhaps you can lead the way to reduce the carbon footprint of government officials at the very least and then perhaps, you may be in a better position to urge us to follow suit.

Lorna T: Instead of hearing laments about fuel price hikes, I'd like to hear and see efforts by the government, businesses and people focusing on getting alternatives such as biodiesel and hybrid engines being aggressively implemented and used.

Malaysia claims to be one of the top producers of palm oil in the world, and we have our own specialists and companies that can produce them; so why aren't we selling them to the masses?

We have two national car manufacturers - something that not all our neighbouring Asian countries can claim to have - and these companies are partners with the likes of Daihatsu and Mitsubishi. Yet, where are our hybrid cars?

I hope we realise that the execution of such alternatives will open up more job opportunities and attract more outside investors and high-level, skilled professionals into our country, while balancing our inflation at the same time. So, let's stop talking and blaming, and let's take the appropriate actions.

Frustrated And Anguished: I can't find a good reason to provide an annual rebate to the public. This move would only increase the administrative workload unless the government sees it fit and justified to increase the already high employment ratio of government servants against the Malaysian population.

The most important question is whether the government really cares for the people? If the government really cares, they should look into the following: Abolish all road tax. Reduce the excise duty for all vehicles. Nationalise all toll operators. Improve the public transportation system so as to reduce the dependence on cars.

If these actions are in place, the government can then raise the oil price to the actual market level and let the public decide on whether to purchase a car or use a reliable public transport system.

So far, the government is talking nonsense and evading the real issue. I am very sure that if the above is implemented, there will a minimal impact on the people even if petrol price is at RM4 per litre.

Oppressed: The government has, in my opinion, erred again and repeatedly; resulting in a hardship for the population. Where is the much promised and talked-about improvement in the public transport system?

It seems that the rakyat is made to shoulder the burden of the government's failings in this regard. If we don’t have good public transport, then what means do we have for our daily commute? Why wasn’t there a more succinct energy policy all this time?

What’s rubbing salt in the wound are the tolls and their regular hikes, the high road tax; the high import duties for cars with no incentives for alternative energy vehicles such as hybrids, etc. If the so-called experts can suggest taking away the oil subsidy, then they must remove highway tolls, expensive duties, road taxes and to provide incentives for alternative energy research and use.

Lastly but not least, improve public transport. I see the attempts at allaying our frustrations by comparing fuel prices of this country with our neighbours as being insensitive and insincere.

Ask our elected representatives: what other excuses do you have for overstaying your welcome? Come the next election, you can expect another tsunami.