If it wasn’t for corruption, Malaysians would not have to experience such a high rate of oil price. But, since Barisan Nasional has nearly run this country into bankruptcy, a problem like the rise in international oil prices hits Malaysia badly.

Of course, the powers-that-be do not want to sacrifice their share of the country’s wealth so naturally, the extra cost is transferred to the average people. This would mean that mothers and fathers will have less time to spend with their children and each other, families will have to start cutting more than corners, less time can be spent buying quality food and clothing and the rate of divorce will be higher.

Furthermore, please remember that having less money is the least of an average Malaysian’s problems. Such an increase in our cost of living will result in less savings for our children or even none. The future of our children is at stake and if the situation does not improve, it would mean that our children might not be able to enjoy the same quality of life that we have managed to enjoy.

And many will testify that since 2004, our average incomes have not increased that much or even enough to offset the rate of inflation. We are forced to make ends meet each time the end of the month arrives. At the same time, the price of goods increases without a hitch.

Now, after suffering for four years, Malaysians are subjected to more hike in the prices of oil and subsequently goods. We now question, how will Malaysians respond? Will there be an uprising and a movement to demand for their rights? Or, at least, will they move to protect the future of their children?

Average Malaysian should consider that the recent hike in oil prices is a sign of corruption having a direct impact on Malaysians’ daily life. Will Malaysians allow the rich to become richer or will they put a stop to this trend once and for all?

Many Malaysians actually do not know the extent of corruption affecting their lives. Most Malaysians just simply accept the government’s line that the hike is only due to international oil price pressures and the BN government is only doing what they’re supposed to do in ‘the interests of the people’.

The challenge now is to get the average Malaysians to accept this fact. The fact that their children’s future is at stake is not so much on their minds, largely because of their ignorance.

The way I see it, the oil problem is a good opportunity for Pakatan Rakyat and the rest to spread awareness against corruption to every Malaysian regardless of their walk of life. We have languished so much under a corrupt system and we are now made to pay for the corruption of a few.

If we take our Indonesian neighbor post-Suharto, it seems everyone there is of the opinion that their state of poverty is largely attributed to corruption. There is such a realisation in the minds of every single Indonesian regardless of their social status. We must emulate the Indonesians in spreading this realisation here.

The key to curbing corruption lies with the people, not the government. How does one expect a government to check on corrupt practices by the government itself? It’s like asking a thief to serve as judge and jury and convict oneself. It just doesn’t work.

The other challenge is to spread this realisation among the rural people. The rural community are largely Malays and they are mostly involved in the commodity sector. Since a few years ago, commodity prices have experienced massive price increases thus increasing their incomes ten- fold.

And the rural people are largely low-users of fuel in their daily lives. They mostly ride motorbikes for work and when they drive their cars, it’s usually to go for visits and for other recreational or social activities. Therefore, on average, they utilise less oil per capita as compared to their urban counterparts. We in the city, are forced to drive to work day in day out. As such, our utilisation of petrol is at least five times theirs.

Furthermore, the rural folk are not bogged down by mortgages and car-loans as much as us in the city. Therefore, the cost of living in the rural area is largely lower than in the cities.

As a result, the rise of oil prices by the government affects the rural folk the least. Therefore, anger is at a lower rate among rural people as compared to the urban dwellers. In fact, Barisan Nasional managed to hold on to Negeri Sembilan by the skin of their teeth simply because of high commodity prices. As a result, the rural electorate in Negeri Sembilan voted for BN in large numbers.

On the other hand, most Malays in the cities either work for the government or for a GLC. Very few are truly independent. Therefore, their voices are stifled and they are forced to accept whatever the government dishes out to them.

Barisan Nasional also realises the fact that most parliament and state seats comprise of rural areas. That is why they are willing to take this chance. I mean, to what extent will the urban people protest to recent oil price hike? Will they come out in large numbers and protest against the government until it falls? The BN doesn’t think so and therefore is willing to take this chance. After all, with the rural votes, the BN is able to control the federal government albeit without a 2/3rds majority.

Furthermore, the BN can always rely on the election commission, the registration department, the police, the army, the mass media etc to lie and cheat in their favour. Their corrupt practices continue because they are confident that with only votes from the urban areas, Pakatan Rakyat will not be able to topple them.

Therefore, it is our challenge to spread this realisation down to the kampung people so that all Malaysians will speak in one voice in defiance of corruption, nepotism and abuse. The kampung folks must be made to realise that corruption will destroy their future and their children’s future. This is our challenge indeed.