This story aptly illustrates the economic situation in the country at the present moment and who is responsible for it.

On PM: Understand reasons for fuel hike

Jude Manickam: You could have bet your last drop of petrol that there would have been a serious backlash from the public if any prime minister anywhere announced a whopping 40% overnight increase in the price of petrol and diesel wouldn't you?

But then, we are in Bolehland - where everything and anything boleh! Never mind that the oil price has been running faster than Usain Bolt for the past few years. Never mind that Bolehland has been subsidising the oil price very generously to everyone regardless of whether they deserve it or not.

Never mind the deliberate decision to let the public transport system slowly go to rot over the years. Never mind that Bolehland with all its natural resources has never really looked to explore and develop alternative fuel resources with the exception of a few ‘lip service’ projects.

Never mind that Petronas' coffers - but I won't go into that etc. etc. It's a never ending litany of errors, ill-governance, and apathy for sure. So now, Bolehland's PM finds himself between the devil and the deep blue sea.

Under the circumstances would you not have counted the possibility of brickbats whistling in faster than Bruce Lee's fists of fury? I bet if you were the PM you would have. Anyone would have. But he says this is an opportunity for the people to’ change their lifestyle’ and start ‘practising conservation’

What on earth is that supposed to mean?

Which reminds me of another story: A horse, a cow and a donkey were having an argument about who had most contributed to the war effort. The horse said he had done the most - ‘Without me, the soldiers wouldn't have been able to ride off to war’.

The cow said she was the one - ‘Without me, there would have been no one to feed the civilian population’.

The donkey, not to be outdone, said, ‘True....but I was the head of government. Without me, there would have been no war!’

I rest my case.

Malaysians Are Not Simpleminded: Prime Minister Abdullah Ahamd Badawi's explanation on why fuel prices must be hiked totally ignores the fact that Malaysia is also benefitting from high world oil prices.

This is like a father telling his family that they have to cut down on food and other essentials as the price of everything has gone up. Fair enough, but the fact that the father is also earning more is conveniently ignored.

Furthermore, the father still goes out clubbing and entertaining with his friends. How do you expect the children to take this? Inevitably, the children draw the conclusion that the real reason for the belt tightening is to provide more funds for the father's expensive entertainment.

Malaysians can accept a fuel price hike under the proper circumstances, but not when Petronas profits are kept secret and the government squanders public funds on economically senseless projects.

Kijay: With reference to the fuel price hike and the subject of fuel subsidy, I feel this is only applicable to countries which are deprived of fuel or net fuel importers. In Malaysia, I think we have an abundance of petroleum resources that we can actually use.

Our own harvest is for our consumption, instead of being net fuel importers. The drawback is that our petrochemical companies will have reduced profits from no exports, which results in less revenue to the nation.

Just a thought for our government to look into to minimise cost. If the Middle Eastern countries can keep their costs down, so can we. Malaysia Boleh!

Ding Lihan: The fuel price hike is simply the most ridiculous decision that this federal government has ever made. It comes at the worst time when the whole world is facing mounting food prices. And this government has simply put more pain on the rakyat . What is in their brains?

Go to the bakery stall and ask the price for a loaf of bread. Go the wet market and ask the price of chicken or fish. Go to the agriculture store and ask the price of fertilisers. Go to a coffee shop and ask for a cup of coffee. Everything has gone up by at least 40% since the increase.

Come to Sarawak and explore the hinterland likes Baram, Belaga, Bario and see it for yourself what the price of diesel and petrol are which the rural folk have to bear. The price of petrol and diesel in Baram and Belaga is RM5 per liter.

These people are farming communities so what are the government plans for them? Baram and Belaga are the biggest constituencies more of less the size of the state of Pahang and Selangor, yet not a single tarred road is there.

The peoples of Baram and Belaga have been waiting for more than 30 years for link roads. Where are the Malaysian Plans for this?

It's now time for a change of leadership in Malaysia. Letting these crooks run the country will simply turn it into the likes of Zimbabwe and Serbia with too many millionaires.

Zacchew: Firstly, a 40% increase in oil price can easily translate into an increase of at least 10% to 20% in the total running cost for a small to medium businesses. Secondly, the government has restricted any increase in the selling price for goods or services in the retail end.

Hence further cutting the already slimmed profit margin due to the increase in other commodities’ prices. Lastly, the gorvernment has further suppressed demand in the market by instructing people to reduce their spending in order to curb inflation.

This will easily cause small to medium businesses to crash. All I can say is that this is really bad governance. Please stop giving excuses, show us your solutions.

Ramli Omar: I think Pak lah and his cabinet did not realise or may not have wanted to look into the angle how to be with the people. So now within a year or two, you can expect the price increases of other essential item as well. The plight of the people is not acknowledged by BN.

I now believe the present BN is not fit to run the government due to a lack of ideals, knowledge and expertise. They have no potential in bringing the people to a better level. Look at the income of Petronas, TNB and Telekom, there are making billions.

Why can't these GLC companies take less profit during these trying times and thereafter regain whatever profit when the good times return? Can you imagine life of the private sector? A clerk earns RM600-700 a month. A diploma holder earns only RM1,200 -RM1,50o and degree holders earn RM1,800 - RM2,000.

What about the security guards, the factory workers, the mechanics, the mason or the labourers? I think Pak Lah could not care less. By December he may leave or be pushed out.

Weng Soon Loh: Lets react positively to the current drive by the government to curb the cost of the fuel subsidy. By doing that, we discourage indiscriminate use of fuel.

Let us encourage our leaders and their gang, namely the PM and all his ministers plus deputy ministers to use only public transport for one month. Just one month. Lead by example and compute all the costs in receipts and/or tickets, then do a comparison on how much it costs compared to them using government-provided vehicles (for 1 month).

That way, our they can show people how much they (ministers/ deputies) saved the country on the subsidy and how little they contributed to the pollution of our environment. Yang Amat Berhormat, please, lead by example. Please.

Sensible Citizen: You can have all the reasons to state and support the 40% increase in petrol price. You can compare the prices with Thailand and Singapore. You can say the subsidy will be used to improve public transport system.

But one thing you have chosen to forget: Malaysia is a net exporter of oil. Malaysia is an oil producing country. Where has all the oil revenue gone to?

The time has come when we, as the rakyat, must be allowed to examine the books of Petronas. This is our fundamental right to know what is actually happening. We must ensure our oil revenue is put to right use.

Don’t ever compare us again with other countries. You know very well much a saloon car is sold in Europe as compared to our hefty taxes. Working in Singapore you can go without a car. But not here.

We are humble citizens. Just tell us how our oil money was used. We are very reasonable. If oil revenue is put to right use for the benefit of the rakyat , let us raise the petrol price again. But you prove it first to us.

Ricky: Why July 12 for the mass protest at KLCC? The harm had been done even if the present government agrees to reverse back to the old fuel price. Everything would have increased by then.

We should start protesting immediately everyday to bring the fuel and electricity back to the old price. All these resources belong to the people of Malaysia and not just to benefit Petronas and TNB.

Let’s get together and get the government to change their lifestyle instead of buying submarines, wastage and spending on unnecessary projects and expenditures.

Edward CT Ho: I am a Malaysian living in Australia. The protest against the fuel price hike is understandable (as it hurts everyone's pocket) but it is also politics-driven. If you ponder calmly, the price hike makes economic sense and follows the equal wealth distribution principle.

The oil price is low in Malaysia because of heavy government subsidies. The subsidies come out from everybody's pocket as taxes, reduction in social services, public expenditure etc. This means everyone is paying a subsidy for the rich or the foreigners to enjoy low petrol price.

This does not make sense to me. Hiking the price and having oil price reflect market price (as the government is contemplating in August) while giving rebates (whether the amount is appropriate is to be disputed) to the poor are good and responsible policies. The rich will be paying dearer petrol than the poor from now on.

The government has made a tough decision not to score political points, but for the good of Malaysia. Everyone knows it's a political suicide to hike prices. Making a hard decision under mounting political pressure and the risks of losing popular support require selfless determination. I commend the government's courage.

Like it or not, a high oil price is here to stay. It is happening everywhere in the world. It's more practical to live with the new reality. People are starting to dump bigger cars for smaller cars or hybrids.

Many are now using public transport, cycling and walking more. Housing roofs are replaced with solar-energy panels and people are more conscious about saving energy. Not a bad thing for the earth and our future generations. The environment conservationists are loving it.