Where there's a will, there will be a way, so goes the old adage. This wise saying however does not do justice to the government's manipulative tactics in wanting to improve the public transport system.

The government has saved RM4.4 billion from the fuel subsidies and in turn raised fuel prices to 30 sen per litre and liquid petroleum gas to 30 sen per kg.

If the price hike was not painful enough for the people, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had the audacity to ask them to change their lifestyle. It was clear that Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was caught off guard by the hostility displayed by the people over the hike.

Not knowing how to handle the situation, he thought it best to let his deputy do the talking. And when Najib talked, it was a case of adding salt to injury.