Yet again the common people are being burdened with extra expenses with the impending increase in electricity tariffs come June 1. It is a sad day indeed when the government of the day does not only know how to balance their budget and the people have to pay for the sins of wasted projects, endemic corruption and abuse of power by the powers-that-be.

With the increase in petrol price by 30 cents recently and now the increase in electricity tariffs, one can only shudder to think how our wallets will become thinner with rising inflation. And don't tell me that politicians - whose salary and perks are being paid for by us - don't have their ears to the ground to hear the grouses of the public on the price increases. Perhaps more demonstrations by the public at public places will make the government rescind their unpopular moves.

Gloomy days are ahead of us as businessmen will pass on the latest burden to us as a result of the price hike for electricity. If the present regime thinks that voters will not punish them come the next polls, they better look at Sarawak. The people are fed up with the lies, deceit, abuse of power and corruption which doesn't seem to have abated since Pak Lah took over the government more than two years ago.

As a layman, I cannot understand why TNB is burdened with a debt of excess of RM30 billion. Is the legacy of heavy debts because of the one-sided agreement with the independence power producers which heavily favour the latter? Why should TNB open a university if their funds are dry? Why should the people have to pay for the mismanagement of TNB which has resulted in this power utility being on the brink of insolvency?

As a salaryman, I will have to lead a very austere and frugal lifestyle in order to feed the family. And my empathy goes to the poor and downtrodden people who will face a tough time eking a living to feed their families with this latest price hike.