kopi panas

Football: Scolari to lead Chelsea against Malaysia

2008-06-19T19:46:00.000-07:00

ENGLISH Premier League club Chelsea will field their best 11 under new manager Luiz Felipe Scolari (pic) against a Malaysian selection at Shah Alam Stadium on July 29.

Proevents International Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Julian Kam however did not want to disclose the Blues squad as they might be signing another player in preparation for the new season which kicks off on Aug 16.

"But I can assure fans, not only in Malaysia but also from Asean that Chelsea will bring their best players and also their new team manager, Scolari," said Kam in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Earlier, Kam announced that Samsung Malaysia is the title sponsor for the Samsung-Chelsea Asian Tour 2008 -- Malaysia. Proevents is the exclusive promoter for the tour.

He said the tour will kick off in Guangzhou, China on July 23 before moving to Macau on July 26. "The team will arrive in Malaysia on July 27 and will have a tight schedule including handling coaching clinics, charitable events and autograph sessions before meeting the Malaysian Selection at 8.45pm at the Shah Alam Stadium." he said.

Kam said tickets for the match, which go on sale today, are priced RM33, RM53, RM83 and RM103 while limited VIP tickets cost RM303 each.

Fans can purchase tickets from TicketPro sales outlets and 33 Adidas outlets nationwide or book online through ticketpro.com.my.

The 2008 Tour marks Chelsea's third trip to Malaysia, the first being the 1999 Tour before taking part in the FA Premier League Asia Cup championship in 2003, together with Birmingham City and Newcastle.

Scolari was the team manager of the Brazil World Cup squad which had a one-week training stint in Kuala Lumpur before winning the 2002 World Cup.

Meanwhile, FA of Malaysia general secretary Lt Jen (Rtd) Datuk Azzudin Ahmad said the national squad would begin centralised training at Wisma FAM on July 5 before leaving for China on July 11 for a friendly with the republic's Olympic squad.

The national squad will return on July 14 to prepare for the showdown against "The Blues".

Badminton / Indonesia Open: Zakry-Fairuz live dangerously

2008-06-19T19:40:00.000-07:00

Lee Tsuen Seng took 37 minutes to beat Kendrick lee 21-12, 22-20.

Zakry-Fairuz, who won the Singapore Open on Sunday, overcame a poor first game to notch a 14-21, 23-21, 21-15, win over South Korea's Cho Gun Woo-Yoo Yeon Seong in 52 minutes to stay in the hunt.

However, Zakry-Fairuz were staring at an early exit after losing the first game 14-21 and trailed 18-17 in the second before clawing their way against the Koreans whom they beat in straight games in the semi-finals of the Singapore Open.

The victory pits Zakry-Fairuz, ranked World No 13, against unseeded Indonesians Muhammad Ahsan-Bona Septano in the last eight today.
ZAKRY Latif and Fairuzizuan Tazari lived dangerously before snatching a quarter-final berth while Beijing Olympics-bound Wong Pei Tty-Chin Eei Hui also slugged their way through in the Indonesia Open in Jakarta yesterday.

Pei Tty-Eei Hui made life difficult for themselves before securing a 21-11, 18-21, 21-16 win over Russsia's Valeri Sorokina-Nina Vislova in 56 minutes in the second round. They will meet Indonesians Vita Marissa-Lilyana Natsir today.

Hoon Thien How-Ong Soon Hock, a new combination playing only in their second tournament, were the second national pair to reach the men's doubles quarter-finals after beating fourth seeds Shuichi Sakamoto-Shintaro Ikeda of Japan 25-23, 21-23, 21-19 in 71 minutes.

They will play seventh seeds Mathias Boe-Carsten Morgensen of Denmark, who defeated another Malaysian pair Khoo Chung Chiat-Tan Bin Shen 21-9, 24-21, 21-19, in the last eight.

World Champions Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia were also forced to work hard by Chan Chong Ming-Chew Choon Eng, who are currently the sparring partners to national men's doubles squad, before securing a 21-12, 17-21, 21-16 win.

In the men's singles, Lee Tsuen Seng advanced to the quarter-finals after beating Singapore's Kendrick Lee 21-15, 22-20 in 37 minutes.

The KLRC Bhd shuttler will now meet Indonesia's Simon Santoso, the Singapore Open runner-up, next.

Sairul Amar Ayub, also attached to KLRC Bhd, lost to Przemyslaw Wacha of Poland 20-22 21-17 21-17.

Nicklaus even more amazed at Tiger's victory

2008-06-19T19:02:00.001-07:00

Published: June 19, 2008

(AP) — Jack Nicklaus always thought the U.S. Open was the hardest and most complete test in golf. That's what made Tiger Woods' victory even more impressive to the man whose major record Woods is trying to beat.

"To have a will as strong as that, I take my hat off to him," Nicklaus said Thursday.
Nicklaus was in Utah on Monday while Woods was going 19 holes for a playoff victory over Rocco Mediate at Torrey Pines, and later learned the source of Woods' pain.

Woods said Wednesday that he had a torn ligament the last 10 months and a double stress fracture in his left leg that he suffered two weeks before the U.S. Open. He twice rallied from a one-shot deficit on the 18th hole, first to get into a playoff on Sunday, then to extend the playoff one extra hole.

He said he will have surgery to repair a torn ACL and will miss the rest of the season.
"In light of this week's revelation about Tiger's health, it makes his performance in the U.S. Open that much more phenomenal," Nicklaus said. "I have always said that the U.S. Open is the most difficult and complete examination of a golfer, and for him to persevere with a damaged knee and stress fracture is a testament not only to his ability, but his tremendously high level of competitiveness."

Nicklaus issued a statement through his office because he was inundated with requests for comments.

As for Woods missing the rest of the year, Nicklaus said he understood — even if he could not relate.

"I am sincerely sorry for him," said Nicklaus, captain of four Presidents Cup teams on which Woods played. "I understand how difficult it is for him to walk away from the game, especially with two major championships and a Ryder Cup on the horizon. But I also know that Tiger is a very intelligent young man, and he has made a decision that is best for the long term and the rest of his career."

Nicklaus won a record-tying four U.S. Opens among his 18 professional majors, and he was never slowed by injury until late in his career. He only withdrew from one major, the 1983 Masters, with a back injury after the tournament started.

Woods' season-ending surgery means he will not be able to catch one record that Nicklaus owns — 146 consecutive majors played, a streak that coincidentally ended 10 years ago at Royal Birkdale when Nicklaus did not play the British Open.

"Tiger is one of the best-conditioned golfers I have ever been around, so I fully expect for him to do what is necessary to get back to competitive shape in the shortest amount of time possible and return strong next season," Nicklaus said. "Personally, I look forward to that return. Tiger is a great person and great champion, and he is important to the game of golf."

Sampras maintains Federer will top his career Grand Slams mark

2008-06-19T18:55:00.000-07:00

Story Highlights

Pete Sampras plans to be in attendance when Roger Federer wins his 15th major Federer currently has 12 Grand Slam titles, two behind Sampras' record of 14 If Federer wins Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, he could set the record in Australia

LONDON (AP) -- Pete Sampras remains confident that Roger Federer will beat his record for most career Grand Slam singles titles.

In fact, Sampras plans to be sitting among Federer's most vocal supporters when he does win a 15th career major -- even if that requires a lengthy flight to Melbourne, Australia.

Federer has 12 Grand Slam titles, two behind Sampras' record.

If Federer won a sixth straight Wimbledon title next month and a fifth consecutive U.S. Open title in September, he would be aiming for No. 15 at the Australian Open in January. "There is a burning desire in Roger to break my record, and when he does it I would like to be there," Sampras said Thursday. "I said to Roger, 'Just make sure it's in New York or London. Australia is a long way to go. (But) if it worked out like that, I would fly there.'

"I would just let him enjoy it as his moment but (I would want to be there) just to respect the record and what he was able to do and to just say, 'Congratulations."'

Despite Federer's loss to No. 2-ranked Rafael Nadal in the French Open final, Sampras is confident the Swiss star will bounce back at the All England Club.

"He's created this monster of winning so many tournaments and so many majors and doing it with ease," Sampras said in Sao Paulo, Brazil. "As great as Roger is, he's going to have his losses and his bad days. It's just human nature to go through some lulls."

That doesn't mean he has lost his edge, Sampras said.

"In the majors, he's still the guy that's most likely to win them," Sampras said. "He's lost a couple and, if anything, that'll do him some good. It'll get him going and fired up. He'll be just fine."

The 36-year-old Sampras was speaking from BlackRock Tour of Champions, where he makes his debut Thursday in Brazil against Thomas Muster.

But Sampras will find it hard not thinking of Wimbledon, which begins Monday, and where he captured half of his career majors.

"I think if I were to step back on that court at Wimbledon it would bring up a lot of emotion," Sampras said. "Just because of what the place meant to me and how big it was to the sport of tennis."

Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

BMW Sauber gives Ferrari, McLaren Mercedes something to think about

2008-06-19T18:51:00.001-07:00

By Dan Knutson
Special to ESPN.com
(Archive)

Look who's perched atop the Formula One driver standings: BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica.

Ferrari and McLaren Mercedes have had the fastest cars so far this season, but they have a healthy respect for BMW Sauber, poised to be a real threat to their supremacy.

BMW Sauber proved that with a 1-2 finish in the Canadian Grand Prix. It was the first-ever win for the team and the first for Polish driver Robert Kubica.

"We've seen that they've been fast all year, more or less there all the time," Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen said of BMW Sauber. "Now they finish 1 and 2. When things go wrong with the guys at the front, it gives them a nice lead."

Thanks to consistent points scoring in the first seven races, Kubica leads the drivers' championship with 42 points.

Lewis Hamilton is second and Felipe Massa third, both with 38 points, followed by Raikkonen with 35 and Nick Heidfeld with 28.

Ferrari heads the constructors' championship with 73 points, ahead of BMW Sauber with 70 and Vodafone McLaren Mercedes with 53.

Since the opening race of the season, the BMW Sauber drivers often have been poised to pounce anytime a Ferrari or McLaren driver has trouble. And when the latter two teams were fast but had bad races in Canada -- highlighted by Hamilton's not seeing the red light at pit exit and ramming into Raikkonen -- BMW Sauber reaped the rewards.

"I think when you are leading the [drivers'] world championship after seven races, you have a car that can win races and can fight for top positions," Kubica said. "So if a team can build a top car, it's a top team. That's very clear."

Teammate Heidfeld, who finished second in Canada, also believes BMW Sauber is now a top team.

"We led the constructors' championship earlier this season," he said, "and now Robert is leading the world drivers' championship, so we must be a top team by now. McLaren and Ferrari have made a couple of mistakes this year, they messed up their race [in Canada], but nevertheless it also takes a top team and good drivers not to make those mistakes."

McLaren's F1 CEO Martin Whitmarsh regards BMW as a serious threat for the title.

"You've got to," he said. "The reality is they have consistently scored points and done a good job. We've got to recover from a disappointing race [in Canada] and continue to improve our car.

"We've got to make sure there are no mistakes, we're consistent and we score points. If we can do that, then we'll continue fighting Ferrari but score enough points to overcome BMW."

Ferrari's team principal Stefano Domenicali has a healthy respect for the BMW Sauber challenge, as well.

"I always said at the beginning of the season that I was expecting McLaren first and BMW second as our main competitors," he said. "[Canada] was a really good race for them, no mistakes. They are there, they are strong."

Like the McLaren team, however, Ferrari believes it can fight back in the coming races.

"I think, with our car, we should be able to win races and come back," Raikkonen said. "It's still early in the season. We are not in the strongest position right now, but we just need to start winning races again."

Domenicali added: "We need to go back to our standard in term of points [earnings]. We need to work, be humble; we know that the others are pushing. BMW took a lot of points [in Canada], McLaren not too many, but they are strong, they will be there."

BMW Sauber's technical director, Willy Rampf, told Autosport magazine after the Canadian Grand Prix that it's too early to predict whether his team will still be a championship contender at the end of the season.

"We have to be realistic," he said. "Normally they [Ferrari and McLaren] are slightly better than us, and today we benefited from the incident at the end of the pit lane, but that is part of the game. If you want to win, everything has to be perfect and that is what happened to us. Some other teams were not so lucky.

"We are very proud of what we achieved up to now with the first victory, and the position 1 and 2 is even better. It is what you dream of! But to think about the world championship is nice, but much too early."

BMW took over Sauber (a privateer team that raced from 1993 to 2005) and formed BMW Sauber, which began competing at the start of the 2006 season. The team said its target was to win its first Grand Prix in 2008, and it achieved that goal in its 42nd start. Before that, BMW Sauber drivers had posted eight top-3 finishes.

Kubica and Heidfeld know their cars do not have the pace to win every race.

"We can all be very proud of this 1-2 for the team," Heidfeld said. "On the other hand, that doesn't mean that from now on we have to win each race. As Robert said, there were other cars that were quicker on the circuit [in Canada], especially Hamilton."

But the bottom line is that Ferrari and McLaren are wary of the BMW Sauber threat.

"They are scoring points all the time," Raikkonen said. "Nobody can count them out."

Dan Knutson covers Formula One for National Speed Sport News and ESPN.com.

The French Grand Prix preview - Ferrari favourite for Magny-Cours?

2008-06-19T18:44:00.000-07:00

Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen is busy telling the world that he wants to satisfy his lust for winning; BMW Sauber’s Robert Kubica is quietly determined not to lose his lead in the world championship; and Lewis Hamilton ha s been admitting to the pressure he is feeling as McLaren’s (and his country’s) golden hope for title honours.

Frankly, the odds favour the Ferrari and BMW Sauber teams in Magny-Cours rather than Hamilton, as he will be given the 10-place grid penalty for his gaffe of running into the back of Raikkonen recently in Canada.

Raikkonen proclaimed earlier this week: "I don't remember when I had such a great lust for winning. The team had prepared a car, which was able to be strong on all the tracks, but it didn't go well during the last races.

“I don't like looking back and think about what happened at the last race. I don't carry bad thoughts with me, because that would just make me lose time, as you can't change the result anyway. It's much better to concentrate on the upcoming GP and try to get the best result possible."

The Finn won here last year, of course, and needs a strong result to contain the increasing challenge not just from Kubica but also from team mate Felipe Massa who drove storming races in Monaco and Montreal. For his part, Massa believes the F2008 will be well suited to Magny-Cours, though the Brazilian remains wary of the BMW Sauber threat.

“It is a nice track that usually suits the characteristics of our car,” he said. “In recent years, people would say that Canada and Monaco suited McLaren better than Ferrari, while it was the other way round in France and Britain, but I don't think that is really the case this year, as apart from any other factors, we have to consider the BMW team in this equation.”

Meanwhile, Hamilton told British broadcasters the BBC: “The sport is fun, but there's a way you have to learn to enjoy it. There's so much pressure, and I can't begin to explain how much pressure I have on my shoulders.”

The grid penalty will make it almost impossible for Hamilton to win at Magny-Cours, a circuit that historically favours the Ferraris and on which it is horribly difficult to overtake. However, there may be one thing that could disrupt anticipated form and that’s the weather. Severe thunderstorms are currently predicted for race day, after rain for qualifying.

"I put a lot of pressure on myself, and when you don't succeed it doesn't feel so great," Hamilton acknowledged. "But these are character-building days and the days that make you stronger. I didn't win the last race but I'm loving this. I get to come back here, work with the guys and push forward, and there's a great atmosphere, always pushing to get better and I wouldn't change it for the world. I'm really enjoying myself."

He has put down his mistakes earlier in the year to the fact that he put a lot of pressure on himself. "Too much. And that led to mistakes, being too on the limit. I wasn't really enjoying it, to be honest."

Kubica, like Raikkonen, keeps his emotional cards close to his chest and never gives much away. Barely alluding to his lead in the world championship for drivers, he said: "For many people Magny-Cours is a boring place, but I like the track quite a lot. This is the place where I came back last year after my accident. It's an interesting track because it has all kinds of corners - high-speed, low-speed, high-speed chicanes, a hairpin and heavy braking. So I'm looking forward to the race and I hope that I can do as well as possible here, as I have done in most of the Grands Prix since the beginning of the season.

“I hope we will again have some improvements on the car that will help us to close the gap to Ferrari and McLaren. My goal is to score as many points as possible and to still be in a strong position after the race.”

Bridgestone will bring the 'soft' and 'medium' tyre compounds from their 2008 range to this race, which, with characteristics akin to Monaco, is known to be particularly tiresome for rubber.

Thai auto industry executive thinks Proton should continue to be supported

2008-06-19T18:42:00.000-07:00

Thai Summit Autoparts Industry’s executive vice president Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit said in Bangkok today that although Thailand and Malaysia took different routes to develop their automotive industry, both were successful in their own ways.

He also added that the Malaysian government should continue supporting Proton as it had become crucial to the backbone of various industries here such as autoparts, steel, and petrochemicals. He claims that without Proton, industries will collapse and thousands of people will become unemployed.

He thinks that a self-developed automaker is viable and said that if he could have made a decision 30 years ago, he would have gone for an ASEAN car for the Thai auto industry rather than a national car, as the Thai market is just too small to sustain its own car. But now its not possible anymore as the window of opportunity is closed, he admitted.

Raikkonen seeking fresh start at French Grand Prix

2008-06-18T19:02:00.000-07:00

After going two races without scoring a point, reigning world champion Kimi Raikkonen is hoping to get his title defence back on track this weekend with a victory for Ferrari in the French Grand Prix.

Raikkonen retired from the last round in Canada after being hit from behind in the pit lane by McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton. He also failed to score in the preceding Monaco event after losing control and colliding with Force India’s Adrian Sutil.

In fact, the Finn has not won a race since the Spanish round back in April. However, with the calendar moving from the street circuits of Monte Carlo and Montreal to the more traditional venue of Magny-Cours, Raikkonen is eager to put an end to his losing streak.

“I don't remember when I had such a great lust for winning!” he said. “Now we're heading back to Europe to tracks which have been built to be used by racing cars. I think that things will look really different at Magny-Cours, compared to the last GPs.”

Raikkonen is a big fan of the rural circuit, his victory there last year having been a turning point in his title-winning 2007 campaign. Now, armed with a Ferrari that he believes will be well suited to the demands of the Nevers track, he is he hoping for a repeat performance on Sunday.

“The smooth surface of the French track, its demanding corners and the quick changes of direction will underline the characteristics of the F2008,” he said. “It was here in France last year that my season practically started all over again; and this is what I need now, after the two races with no points. I like this track and I think that it's perfect for our car. I think we'll be competitive and that we can go for the maximum result.”

Raikkonen lies fourth in the driver standings on 35 points, seven behind leader Robert Kubica (42) and three adrift of Hamilton (38) and Ferrari team mate Felipe Massa (38).

Djokovic believes Federer will be vulnerable at Wimbledon

2008-06-18T18:59:00.000-07:00

Novak Djokovic thinks Roger Federer is vulnerable after a lopsided French loss
Djokovic beat Federer in the Australian semis en route to winning his first major
He says loosening the grip of Federer and Nadal is advantageous for tennis

LONDON (AP) -- Novak Djokovic thinks Roger Federer is vulnerable after a lopsided French Open loss and that he is one of several players who could end the Swiss star's five-year reign at Wimbledon.

No. 3-ranked Djokovic beat Federer in the Australian Open semifinals en route to winning his first major title in January.

"Some things are changing. I think he's a little bit shaken with that loss and mentally he has been struggling in the last couple of months," Djokovic said Wednesday. "It's normal to have ups and downs after four years of absolute dominance on the men's tour.

"New names are coming, fresh talented players who believe more they can win against him and I am one of them," Djokovic said. "Suddenly he is worried a little bit."

The 21-year-old Djokovic will not let Sunday's loss to No. 2 Rafael Nadal in the Queen's Club final curb his ambitions at Wimbledon.

He is already relaxing in London, participating Wednesday in publicity event with London mayor Boris Johnson by the River Thames in the shadow of the British Parliament.

"Playing the Queen's final gave me even more motivation to do well at Wimbledon," Djokovic said. "The good thing about the sport now is that people are talking about more than two players. Of course Federer and Nadal still dominate, but coming to Wimbledon as a Grand Slam champion gives me much more reason to believe I can challenge the top two players ... It's a matter of mental ability if you can hold on."

The Serbian player says loosening the grip of Federer and Nadal is advantageous for the sport.

"This year has been really interesting for tennis fans to see," he said. "Roger has been losing more often and you can see some new faces coming up and winning the major titles."

Nadal has lost the last two Wimbledon finals to Federer, but has gained confidence from winning his first grass-court title at Queen's on the weekend.

Djokovic was forced to withdraw during last year's Wimbledon semifinal against Nadal with a bad toe and a bothersome lower back.

"Nadal is very motivated to win the Wimbledon title this year, he's been very close the last two years," Djokovic said. "But I'm one of the players behind intending to make a surprise. I just have to behave normally and be aggressive."

Woods out for rest of '08

2008-06-18T17:34:00.000-07:00

Ryder Cup team, several tournaments, TV networks will feel loss

By Cameron Morfit
Senior Writer, GOLF Magazine
Published: June 18, 2008

Tiger Woods will miss the remainder of 2008 after a planned reconstructive surgery on his left knee, the golfer's management company said Wednesday, confirming rumors that Woods was significantly more injured than he let on while winning the 108th U.S. Open.

IMG released a statement saying the world No. 1 played at Torrey Pines with a torn anterior cruciate ligament and a double stress fracture of the left tibia.

"Now, it is clear that the right thing to do is listen to my doctors, follow through with this surgery and focus my attention on rehabilitating my knee," Woods said.

Wednesday's news sent shock waves through the sport and beyond.

"Wow," said Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling when he heard the news that Woods had won on such a severely damaged leg. "I guess that's why he's Tiger Woods."

As far as anyone knew, Woods was merely recovering from a relatively minor operation on the knee to clean out cartilage April 15. But it was revealed Wednesday that he tore his ACL while jogging near his home in Orlando shortly after the British Open last July. He elected to see if he could avoid a major operation, and won four of his last five official starts of 2007, including the PGA Championship and the inaugural FedEx Cup.

All of those tournaments-also including the WGC Bridgestone Invitational, the BMW Championship and the Tour Championship-will be absent the defending champion this year. So will the Target World Challenge, an unofficial event in December. Woods also will miss playing in his own official tournament, in its second year, the AT&T National, July 3-6.

And his pursuit of Jack Nicklaus's record 18 major championships will temporarily stall at 14. Woods, who has never missed a major as a professional, will not play the final two majors of the year, the British Open at Royal Birkdale in July and the PGA Championship at Oakland Hills in August.

But perhaps the biggest void will be on captain Paul Azinger's U.S. Ryder Cup team, which will be without its biggest point-getter and most intimidating player in September.

"I admire Tiger as a person, player and fan," Azinger said in a statement released by the PGA of America. "This should not be about Tiger and the Ryder Cup now. This is about Tiger's health and well being and his march to history."

Woods had also planned to play in next week's Buick Open in Grand Blanc, Mich.

The first clue that something was wrong, other than a few awkward moments when his patented celebratory fist-pump put too much weight on his left leg, was when Woods elected not to play overseas in the off-season. He came back for the 2008 season a bit lighter, and had won four of six starts worldwide when he opted to have arthroscopic surgery two days after finishing second at the Masters in April.

It was while he was trying to come back from that surgery that he suffered the double stress fracture. It knocked him out of the Memorial, but is expected to heal with time.

"For an athlete as talented and competitive as Tiger Woods, taking the rest of the season off must have been an incredibly difficult, yet necessary decision, one that we understand and support completely," PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said in a statement. "The fact that he needs additional surgery only makes his performance and victory at last week's U.S. Open all the more impressive."

Tiger's absence is expected to have a massive negative impact on TV ratings and at the gate — fans would pay to watch Woods iron his shirts, as evidenced by the 25,000 who turned out to see him beat Rocco Mediate in 19 holes Monday. It may even slightly diminish victories by his fellow competitors over the coming six months.

Woods has had his knee operated on three times already, and the news that it was significantly worse than he let on calls into question his long-term goal of eclipsing the number of major championship titles won by Nicklaus. Woods is also third on the all-time victories list with 65, and he just celebrated his 500th week atop the world ranking.

"I was determined to do everything and anything in my power to play in the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, which is a course that is close to where I grew up and holds many special memories for me," Woods said. "Although I will miss the rest of the 2008 season, I'm thrilled with the fact that last week was such a special tournament.

"I would like to thank my fans and partners for their continual support," he continued, "and can assure everyone that I will be as dedicated to rehabilitating my knee as I am in all other aspects of my career."

Queen's: New Aura

2008-06-17T18:20:00.001-07:00

Posted 06/17/2008 @ 5 :58 PM

Steve here again. Let me interrupt the early rounds of Eastbourne to take you back a couple days, to the late great rounds of Queen’s. As Pete Bodo mentioned in his blog, we were busy with meetings yesterday around the offices of TENNIS Magazine, but I felt the need to get in a comment or two about the tennis from the weekend. Something important may have happened there; it felt like a new aura had begun in men’s tennis.

The aura I’m referring to, of course, is the one that surrounded Rafael Nadal everywhere he went on the Queen’s grass. It was the natural product of his performance in Paris the previous Sunday—you crush Roger Federer in a major final, tennis players tend to show you a little respect.

The odd thing is that Nadal seemed to intimidate Andy Roddick and Novak Djokovic in the semifinals and final more than he did Kei Nishikori and Ivo Karlovic in earlier rounds; each extended him to three sets. But by the time he reached the weekend, Nadal had clearly reached deep into his opponents’ heads. From the beginning, Roddick looked tamed, subdued, unable to summon the cocky lack of respect that serves him so well against lesser players.

As these things tend to do, it became a self-fulfilling prophecy. Roddick, after holding every one of his service games in his previous matches, was broken late in each set and went down in straights. It’s been noted on this blog in the past that Roddick has an exaggerated sense of pecking order: He hates when lower-ranked players challenge him, but he’s overly respectful to guys like Federer and Nadal. He can’t get outraged when they hit winners past him, and that robs him of a source of motivation. The most telling moment of his match with Nadal came fairly late in the second set. After losing a number of cat-and-mouse points around the net, Roddick finally got one to go his way, dropping a short backhand behind Nadal for a winner. When he saw the ball take a second bounce—it’s never over until it’s over against Rafa—Roddick turned toward the baseline, threw his arms in the air, and blew a few mock kisses to the crowd. “I finally won something against this guy,” was the message. It was a funny move, but it also revealed Roddick’s state of mind. He didn’t seriously think he had a shot, even though he had beaten Nadal just a few months ago in Dubai.

It didn’t take that long for Djokovic to reveal his state of mind in the final. Despite coming out on fire, rifling balls into the corners, breaking Nadal immediately, and going up 3-0, he was still agitated, still anxious, still jumpy. Djokovic had break points for a 4-0 lead but let them slip. When Nadal finally held, the Serb shot a look at his entourage as if to say: “Here comes this friggin' guy again.”

You can understand the sentiment. While the surface was different, it must have been hard for Djokovic to face a guy who had just rolled him in three sets a week earlier in Paris, and who had come back from a similar early deficit to beat him in Hamburg the previous month. In that match, Djokovic had thrown his absolute best at Nadal for long periods of time, but it hadn’t been enough. I’ve said before that one problem Djokovic may have mentally is that he plays with an edge of impatience and frustration that always lurks just below the surface. Against Nadal, you could see he was expecting to be frustrated. It built up until finally, after holding a set point, he lost the first-set tiebreaker 8-6 and slammed his racquet to the ground. I got the feeling he’d been waiting to do that all afternoon.

Djokovic’s seeming lack of belief—something you rarely see from him, if ever—continued in the second set. He went up a break at 5-4; on grass this is usually an automatic ticket to a third set. But he went down 0-30 right away and was broken. Then, down match point at 5-6, he threw in one of his obligatory half-hearted match-point drop shots (he did the same against Nadal in Rome last year and Hamburg this year, and against Federer in the 2007 U.S. Open final), which Nadal gladly took for the title.

Nadal has the aura of a No. 1 player right now. Judging by his record and his game over the last month, he deserves it. At Queen’s, he hit his backhand better—stronger and more consistently—than I’ve seen him hit it all year. Down set point in the first-set breaker, that shot more than held its own in a long crosscourt rally with Djokovic’s forehand. Nadal also anticipated the big serves of Karlovic and Roddick at just the right moments and blocked his forehand returns at their feet with ease. He was at his athletic best around the net; his footwork—discrete little steps rather than long slides—was fully adjusted for grass; he was taking the ball closer to the baseline; and he’s begun to make the wrong-foot play with his forehand, both inside-out and crosscourt, a major part of his repertoire. It’s always said that the wrong-foot is a great play on slippery clay; it’s equally effective on slippery grass. Most impressive of all was Nadal's forehand pass. All that topspin and sidespin made it look like he couldn’t hit it out even if he tried. The shots I’ll remember most from this tournament were the viciously swooping forehand passes he kept hitting from no-man's land, even as he was running full speed toward the net. You wouldn't know it from watching Nadal, but it’s a deceptively hard shot to judge (a lot of these balls end up in the net because the player is worried about hitting it long), like a floating one-hander in the lane in basketball.

As Roddick said, Nadal seemed to be in cruise control from having played so many matches—winning is a habit, just like losing. Anything could happen next week, after he’s gone a few days without winning a tennis match. Nadal may lose a little momentum, he may get a tough early draw—Karlovic would certainly make things a little scary—he may blow a close set and shed some of that bullet-proof confidence he’s been walking around with. Despite all that, I think Nadal is the favorite to win Wimbledon. Djokovic and Roddick have already seen and felt the new aura—they helped create it. How about Roger Federer? While he’s coming in on a long grass, and Wimbledon, winning streak, if he meets Nadal in the final on Centre Court, he’s going to feel it, too. Making it go away will be the biggest challenge of his career.

Kubica Objectives remain unchanged

2008-06-17T18:18:00.000-07:00

Robert Kubica starts a Formula One Grand Prix for the first time as World Championship leader. However, he goes into the race in Magny-Cours with the same goals.

After claiming victory at the Canadian Grand Prix, and taking the lead in the World Championship, Robert is certain to attract a lot of interest in Magny-Cours. Despite this, however, the Polish BMW Sauber F1 Team driver says the race in France is nothing out of the ordinary.

"It's an interesting track because it has all kinds of corners - high-speed, low-speed, high-speed chicanes, a hairpin and heavy braking," are how Robert characterises the "Circuit de Nevers", the venue for the forthcoming French Grand Prix: "So I'm looking forward to the race and I hope that I can do as well as possible here, as I have done in most of the Grands Prix since the beginning of the season."

After his great success in Montreal, Robert's objectives remain unchanged: "I hope we will once again have made some improvements to the car, which will help us to close the gap to Ferrari and McLaren. My goal is to score as many points as possible and to still be in a strong position after the race."

However, the BMW Sauber F1 Team driver can take particular pleasure from the French Grand Prix. "For many people Magny-Cours is a boring place, but I like the track quite a lot," says Robert. "This is the place where I came back last year after my accident."

Guardiola clears way for sale of big three

2008-06-17T17:48:00.000-07:00

New Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has revealed Ronaldinho, Deco and Samuel Eto'o are not part of his plans for next season while also ruling out a summer bid for Cristiano Ronaldo.

Guardiola, a former Barcelona captain, was officially unveiled today as the Catalan club's first-team coach.

And he admitted the big name trio - all of whom have been linked with moves to the Premier League - are surplus to requirements.

'All of the players in the first-team squad last season are of a very high level,' he said. 'But with the technical secretary we are forming a squad and Deco, Ronaldinho and Eto'o are not in our minds.'

However, Guardiola admitted he would be happy to keep Ronaldinho if the Brazilian could recapture his best form.

'If I felt that he wanted to be the player he was again, he would be here,' he added. 'But the situation has deteriorated and the solution is to build a strong dressing-room.'

The imminent departure of the Brazilian and the recent exit of Giovani Dos Santos to Tottenham means Guardiola will be short of options on the left flank, but the 37-year-old ruled out a summer swoop for Manchester United winger Ronaldo.

'I wouldn't make a space for him in the team, even though I think he is a very good player,' he said.

Guardiola said the club's priority is to sign a striker.

'We will look at the possibility of bringing in a winger, but if we don't then that's fine; the priority is a number nine,' he said.

He joked: 'We are looking for a number nine who scores 60 goals for us.'

However, the coach claimed Thierry Henry remains very much part of his plans, despite an indifferent first season at the Nou Camp.

He said: 'I am looking for a number nine, we need one to complement Henry and Bojan (Krkic). I want the three to feel like first-team starters.'

Guardiola confirmed star winger Lionel Messi is very much part of his plans, but revealed he will not build his team around the young Argentina forward.

'He is a player we are very interested in keeping,' he said. 'I am very much counting on him, but we shouldn't put all the weight of a club on the shoulders of one player.

'We will help him and try to stop him getting injured.'

Guardiola also warned the youngster that he will have to defend more than under previous coach Frank Rijkaard.

'He must feel part of the group and feel that when other teams score against us, it is partly his fault,' he said.

Nevertheless, the former Barcelona captain revealed he will impose an attacking philosophy as coach of the team he has supported since he was a boy.

'We have to go and look for the win, I am an absolute fan of attacking football,' he said. 'When I see the ball closer to the opponents' goal, I am more relaxed.

'I have read that we are only signing defenders, but we will attack better if we have a better defence and defend better if we have a good attack.'

The 37 year-old, who led Barcelona's youth team to promotion on Monday, says he is now eager to get started with the first-team.

'I am not here to ask for time or a honeymoon period of 100 days,' he said. 'I am really satisfied to be here and I know this is a great responsibility. I can't wait to get started, there is no time to waste.'

Despite his lack of coaching experience and the enormous pressure of coaching Barcelona, Guardiola believes he is up to the task.

He said: 'I feel I won't fail (sporting director) Txiki (Begiristain) or president (Joan) Laporta because I am prepared.

'I understand the doubts about me and my experience.

'I know I am here because of my time as player at the club, but I feel that in a couple of months, the doubts will decrease because I am convinced that I can do a good job.'

However, the former Spain midfielder refused to promise immediate success.

'I can't and won't promise titles from the first day because I think that would be a mistake,' he said.

World Champions still alive

2008-06-17T17:46:00.000-07:00

Empics
Joy unconfined: Italy rejoice at reaching the quarters.
Italy have emerged as runners-up in the group of death after they won 2-0 against France and Holland beat Romania by the same scoreline. Andrea Pirlo converted a first half penalty after Abidal had been dismissed for fouling Luca Toni, before a deflected Daniele De Rossi free kick made the game safe. In Berne, goals from Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Robin Van Persie dismantled Romania's dream. [+]

The Good Feeling

2008-06-17T17:44:00.000-07:00

12 Jun 2008
Kubica interview: winning is a wonderful feelingAt last weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix Robert Kubica made it onto the top step of the podium for the very first time, to take BMW Sauber’s maiden victory, in what was only his 29th Formula One race. Kubica, however, hasn’t had time to rest on his laurels for too long and is back at work testing this week. The team’s press office caught up with the Polish driver in Barcelona to question the hero of Montreal about his win and his hopes for the rest of the season…

Q: Four days after the race, how does it feel to have recorded your first Grand Prix victory?
Robert Kubica: It is a wonderful feeling, not only for me but for the whole team, for everybody who contributed to the win. Of course, we had a little luck on Sunday, but we earned that good fortune. In the end we were able to celebrate a one-two victory, in which Nick (Heidfeld) also played his part. It was a fantastic result, which gives the team a big motivation boost.

Q: At what point during the race did you first think that you could take the win?
RK: When Lewis (Hamilton) and Kimi (Raikkonen) were eliminated from the race at the first pit stop I was the leading two-stopper. However, the safety car phase appeared to play into the hands of the drivers on a one-stop strategy. I was stuck for far too long behind slower cars, until the last of them came into the pits. Then I was at last able to attack and extend my lead. The first relief came when my second pit stop went smoothly. The pit crew once again did a perfect job. It was once I found that I was still ahead of Nick that I had the first thoughts of winning. I cut down my speed and concentrated totally on not making any mistakes over the final 15 laps. They were the longest, but also the most relaxed laps of my Formula One career so far, as I had no more pressure and only needed to bring the car home.

Q: What have you been doing in the days following your victory?
RK: There has not been much time. I’ve just tried to recharge my energy levels. I’ve done some training and spent the rest of the time relaxing. On Wednesday I travelled to Barcelona, where I’m testing on Thursday and Friday with a view to the next race at Magny-Cours.

Q: This weekend you’ll be driving the Formula One car at BMW Sauber’s Pit Lane Park in Warsaw. Are you looking forward to meeting the Polish fans?
RK: I hope the weather’s good, if so it will definitely be an exciting event. We were over there a year ago, and an unbelievable amount of people turned up even though it was during the holidays. This time it is likely even more people will be there. For me it will be quite a demanding weekend. I’ll have the two days of testing first before flying off to Warsaw on Friday evening, and then it all gets started on Saturday morning. But if the fans enjoy themselves, then all the effort will have been worthwhile.

Q: You are now leading the drivers’ world championship. Do you think you have a realistic chance of winning the title?
RK: I did not expect to be leading the championship after seven races, as our car is not the absolute fastest on the grid. However, we have total reliability. We were still experiencing a few problems in this area last year, but since then we’ve made huge improvements. Added to which, the pit crew has done a great job, as has everybody in the team. I have collected points regularly so far this year, but of course I don’t know if that is going to continue. I will focus on the grands prix one at a time and try to take maximum points in every situation. Of course, consistency is an important factor, and I hope that we are also able to make further improvements to the car. Then we can achieve good things. Whatever happens, we have to do all we can to make the best of the situation. After all, who knows if I will ever get a chance like this again. One thing is for sure - I’ll be giving it everything.

Proton prefers a foreign partnerJune

2008-06-17T17:43:00.002-07:00

18, 2008 at 4:36 am · Filed under Cars, Malaysian Makes, Local News, Proton

Proton’s managing director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir said that Proton prefers a foreign partner rather than a local one, as an established foreign automaker provided more value in terms of technology, marketing and other areas. However a partnership would most likely only happen when Proton becomes stronger and the time is right.

During the great “find Proton a partner” saga that happened a few months ago, there were a few local and foreign possible partners for Proton. Local partners included the Naza Group, DRB-HICOM and Mofaz, while the possible foreign partners were PSA Peugoet Citroen, the Volkswagen group and General Motors.

PSA came and went first, then it was Volkswagen and GM. The Volkswagen deal almost happened but got called off by the government at the very last minute. Apparently talks with GM are still ongoing, but these talks are said to be at extremely preliminary and exploratory stages.

Source

Claim your RM625 fuel subsidy at the post office!

2008-06-17T17:43:00.001-07:00

June 17, 2008 at 11:01 pm · Filed under Malaysian Fuel Prices

As previously revealed, Phase 1 of the RM625 fuel subsidy disbursement has been on-going since the 14th of June 2008. This is for people with cars with engine displacements up to 2000cc, trucks up to 2500cc and bikes up to 250cc whose road tax was renewed between the 1st of April 2008 and the 31st of May 2008. Has anyone eligible claimed their RM625 fuel subsidy yet? Please do share your experiences in the comments section of this post.

I have just renewed my road tax via MyEG and they told me I should expect it in my mail tomorrow. Interesting thing is I actually renewed it for half a year only, so I suppose my road tax will expire twice within the subsidy period! What if I try to claim twice just to see if their system is fool-proof against this? For those of you like me who qualify for the subsidy but have a road tax renewable from the 1st of this month until the 31st of March next year, you can collect it from the 1st of July 2008 onwards.

There’s no need to hurry as according to Pos Malaysia the deadline to collect it is the 31st of March 2009, but for those with road tax expiring the 31st of March 2009, you’ll have to rush to collect it on the day itself! I think it should be extended for those eligible folks whose road tax expires on the last day of the collection period.

For those collecting the subsidies, you can speed up the process a little by printing out the claim form and filling it at home before you head out to the post office. Just download the form via the link below and fill it up.

Fill in your name, address and phone number under the Penerima section. Now here’s where special instructions are needed.

Under the Sender section, fill in your IC and under the Sender’s Address section, write your car registration number.
In the table on the right, write the amount of subsidy you are entitled to under the Jumlah section.
In the receipt section at the bottom of the form, cancel the Pengirim and write Penerima, and fill up your name.
The same goes for the word Pengirim under the MyKad number section.
Under MO Amount section, write your car registration number.
Then write the amount of subsidy you are entittled to receive under the Total Payment.
You can then queue up. The officer at the counter will ask you to put down your left hand thumbprint above the subsidy amount on the table on the right in the form. The whole process excluding filling up your form should only take about 3 minutes, according to Pos Malaysia. It’s the lining up that will take time.

Proton increases 2008 Thai sales target

2008-06-17T01:03:00.001-07:00

According to BKK Autos, Proton and its Thai distributor Phranakorn Auto Sales Co. Ltd has raised its Thai sales target for 2008 from 2,000 units to 5,000 units, based on a surprising Q1 2008 total sales of 1,500 units.

The majority of Proton sales in Thailand comprise of the Proton Savvy, which accounts for half of total sales while the GEN2 and Satria Neo take up 30% and 20% respectively. The Savvy is popular because of its fuel efficiency. Congratulations to Proton for outdoing your initial sales figures. We’re all waiting to see how much higher you can go.

On a side note, I wonder how the Naza Forza is doing in Thailand.

Badminton: Coach Rexy to start grooming young pairs for London Olympics

2008-06-17T00:41:00.001-07:00

By RAJES PAUL
KUALA LUMPUR: National doubles chief Rexy Mainaky experimented with young scratch pairs in the just concluded Singapore Open badminton championships and the results were encouraging indeed.

And he is keen to give these youngsters more opportunities as part of Malaysia's early preparations to form formidable pairs for the 2012 London Olympics.

Stunning show: Mohd Razif Abdul Latif and Tan Wee Kiong celebrating their win over China’s Guo Zhendong-Xie Zhongbo at the Singapore Open recently.

At the Singapore Open, Rexy tested four new pairs – Chan Peng Soon-Lim Khim Wah, Mohd Razif Abdul Latif-Tan Wee Kiong, Hoon Thien How-Ong Soon Hock and Khoo Chung Chiat-Tan Bin Shen. And all of them gave creditable performances.

Razif-Wee Kiong stunned China’s second ranked pair of Xie Zhongbo-Guo Zhengdong to reach the semi-finals while Chung Chiat-Bin Shen pulled the rug from under Japanese Keita Masuda-Tadashi Ohtsuka in the second round.

The other two pairs did not go far but they certainly gave their opponents a run for their money.

Except for Bin Shen and Soon Hock, the others are players from the Project 2010-12 squad. All four pairs will feature in the Indonesian Open, which starts tomorrow in Jakarta.

Rexy said that it was best for Malaysia to start early in grooming the players than be sorry for not having depth in their doubles department.

He will try out the players in several other tournaments before forming more permanent partnerships after the Beijing Olympics in August.

“When I came to Malaysia, I had six pairs to work with. Only three became established pairs. And of the three, one pair are at the end of their playing careers,” said Rexy.

The current three established pairs are Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong, Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif-Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari and veterans Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah.

“I do not want to see Malaysia making the same mistakes again. It is not right to wait one year before the Olympics and expose the youngsters. We have to build new pairs from now,” said Rexy.

He was also happy to note the new pairs' determination to prove a point in the Singapore Open.

“The other countries will surely take note of their performances in Singapore. It will be good if they can continue with their good showing in Indonesia,” said Rexy.

“In the Thailand Open (June 24-29), the coaches will make changes to the pairings. We will assess their performances in a few tournaments before deciding on the best combinations.”

Isu minyak ke OIC - Rais

2008-06-09T20:56:00.001-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR 9 Jun - Malaysia akan membawa isu kenaikan harga minyak dunia yang perlu ditangani segera pada mesyuarat Pertubuhan Persidangan Islam (OIC) Ke- 35 di Kampala, Uganda berikutan kebanyakan negara Islam adalah pengeluar minyak.

Menteri Luar, Datuk Seri Dr. Rais Yatim berkata, walaupun kebanyakan negara Islam adalah pengeluar minyak, namun mereka lebih cenderung untuk mematuhi keputusan yang dibuat oleh Pertubuhan Negara-Negara Pengeksport Petroleum (OPEC).

Menurut beliau, tindakan tersebut menunjukkan seolah-olah mereka tidak mengutamakan usaha untuk membantu umat Islam di seluruh dunia.

''Kita akan mencadangkan kepada anggota OIC untuk mengambil berat terhadap isu kenaikan minyak dan seterusnya menawarkan cara untuk menyelesaikannya.

''Mesyuarat OIC itu juga bakal membincangkan krisis bekalan makanan dunia yang kebanyakannya melibatkan negara-negara di bawah naungan OIC," katanya.

Rais berkata demikian pada sidang akhbar selepas menyampaikan ucaptama pada Persidangan Antarabangsa Ketiga Dunia Islam dan Barat yang disertai 15 negara di sini hari ini.

Beliau berkata, walaupun persidangan itu tidak menjurus kepada perbincangan mengenai kenaikan harga minyak dan krisis makanan secara khusus, namun sudah pasti beberapa pihak akan menimbulkan isu itu.

Dalam pada itu, Rais berkata, beliau mahu dunia Barat melihat negara Islam dengan lebih menyeluruh serta positif dan ia memerlukan formula untuk Barat memahami Islam tanpa mengaitkan agama itu dengan al-Qaeda dan pengganas.

Beliau seterusnya menyalahkan media Barat yang gemar mensensasikan berita mengenai keganasan, penahanan dan juga perang yang melibatkan umat Islam. Memburukkan lagi keadaan, katanya, perkara itu tidak pernah disanggah oleh mana-mana pihak termasuk OIC.

Katanya, al-Qaeda tiada kaitan dengan Islam, sebaliknya ia merupakan satu pergerakan politik yang telah disalah tafsir oleh media Barat.

Untuk menyekat gejala itu daripada terus berlaku, kata Rais, media Islam perlu membaiki imej tersebut berserta sokongan dan pengaruh politik daripada pemimpin negara-negara Islam sendiri.

Rais menambah, Malaysia yang menjadi tuan rumah kepada persidangan kali ini antara lain akan menumpukan kepada hubungan antara Barat dan dunia, memahami Islam dalam era globalisasi, menyemarakkan diplomasi antara dunia Islam dan Barat serta mengelakkan krisis yang melanda dunia hari ini.

''Kita akan menjadikan Kuala Lumpur sebagai penggerak berterusan terhadap isu-isu yang boleh menjalinkan hubungan di samping mengecilkan jurang antara negara-negara Islam dan Barat," katanya.

4 cara ringankan beban rakyat

2008-06-09T20:53:00.000-07:00

PUTRAJAYA 9 Jun - Kerajaan hari ini mengumumkan empat langkah khusus berkuat kuasa serta-merta untuk meringankan beban rakyat dalam menghadapi kenaikan harga minyak selain mengurangkan perbelanjaan awam sehingga RM2 bilion setahun.

Pada sidang akhbar selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat pertama Majlis Membanteras Inflasi di Jabatan Perdana Menteri (JPM) di sini, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi berkata, langkah-langkah itu akan diikuti beberapa ikhtiar lain yang akan diumumkan dari semasa ke semasa.

Empat langkah itu ialah pengurangan perbelanjaan kerajaan, mempercepatkan bayaran tunai kepada pemilik kenderaan yang memperbaharui cukai jalan, kuota kemudahan kad fleet yang lebih tinggi untuk pengusaha pengangkutan dan menambah baik jaringan jaminan sosial.

Arahan-arahan bagi mengurangkan perbelanjaan kerajaan meliputi:

Tidak membenarkan penyusunan semula organisasi kementerian, jabatan atau badan berkanun kecuali yang tidak melibatkan pewujudan jawatan baru;

Pengurangan elaun keraian menteri Kabinet sebanyak 10 peratus;

Perjalanan menteri dan pegawai kerajaan ke luar negara dikaji semula, hanya melibatkan persidangan atau mesyuarat antarabangsa yang penting dengan jumlah pegawai yang terhad;

Penggunaan kemudahan hotel hanya untuk persidangan antarabangsa dan semua kursus, latihan dan bengkel anjuran kementerian untuk anggotanya hendaklah dihadkan dan menggunakan kemudahan sedia ada;

Sewa ruang pejabat baru, perpindahan pejabat ke bangunan lain dan ubah suai pejabat sedia ada tidak lagi dibenarkan;

Pembelian aset seperti kereta dan kelengkapan pejabat dikurang atau ditangguhkan terutama yang belum dimuktamadkan;

Pengurangan penganjuran majlis keraian seperti pembukaan pejabat, persidangan dan mesyuarat. Jika dianjur, ia mesti dilakukan secara sederhana; dan

Anggaran perbelanjaan mengurus 2008 dikaji semula termasuk pemotongan 10 peratus ke atas Objek Am 20000 (Perkhidmatan dan Bekalan) dan Objek Am 30000 (Aset).

Menurut Perdana Menteri, pekeliling mengenai arahan pengurangan perbelanjaan itu akan diedarkan ke semua pejabat kerajaan.

"Kerajaan turut merasai keperitan rakyat dan berasakan pucuk pimpinan hendaklah menunjukkan teladan yang baik dalam menghadapi cabaran ini," ujarnya.

Abdullah berkata, peningkatan harga barang dan bahan api memaksa semua pihak mengambil langkah berjimat cermat termasuk kerajaan yang perlu mengurangkan perbelanjaannya.

Katanya, penjimatan sebanyak RM2 bilion akan membolehkan kerajaan menyalurkannya untuk kegunaan lain termasuk membantu rakyat berpendapatan rendah dalam menghadapi tekanan ekonomi ketika ini.

Kerajaan, kata Perdana Menteri, menyedari tentang beban yang ditanggung oleh rakyat ketika ini dan berusaha untuk mengurangkan beban mereka.

"Rakyat memerlukan bantuan dan mahu tindakan daripada kerajaan yang boleh mengurangkan beban mereka.

"Kerajaan prihatin dengan rakyat dan kita akan mengambil tindakan walaupun tindakan pertama kita (naikkan harga minyak) mengejutkan dan membebankan," ujarnya.

Bagaimanapun, beliau berharap, beberapa langkah susulan yang diambil selepas itu, termasuk inisiatif yang diumumkan hari ini, dapat mengurangkan beban mereka.

No free water for Selangor?

2008-06-09T20:20:00.001-07:00

By WANI MUTHIAH

KLANG: The free water deal for Selangor consumers may not materialise as concessionaire Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) and the state government are unable to come to an agreement.

Syabas chief executive officer Datuk Ruslan Hassan said in a statement that the company and state investment arm Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Bhd (KDEB) could not agree on “terms and conditions” over how the free water was going to be compensated.

Ruslan said Syabas could not accept KDEB’s offer to compensate the company for the free water in September after the proposed restructuring of water services in the state.

The proposal, he said, would adversely affect the water concessionaire’s cash flow and daily operations.

Syabas, he added, was also of the opinion that the proposed free water by the state government “had nothing to do with the restructuring programme in the state”.

Ruslan said Syabas had made an offer to KDEB to bill the state at the end of every month and payment to be made within 14 days after that.

KDEB’s failure to meet this requirement would result in Syabas having to scrap the free water plan.

He said Syabas would continue to issue monthly water bills and charge for the first 20 cubic metres of water until it received favourable terms from KDEB.

Ruslan said Syabas received letters and documents on the instruction to give rebates from KDEB yesterday. The letters were signed on June 6.

Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim had assured consumers in the state recently that the water rebate, which was to take effect on June 1, was still on and that it would be reflected in this month’s water bill.

Air percuma: Syabas tolak S'gor

2008-06-09T19:00:00.000-07:00

Jun 9, 08 10:38pm
Sekali lagi syarikat bekalan air Selangor bergelut dengan kerajaan negeri - hanya beberapa hari selepas menteri besarnya Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim yakin dapat menunaikan janji itu seperti dalam manifesto PKR.

Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) hari ini menolak terma dan syarat pembayaran yang dijanjikan Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Berhad (KDEB), sebuah syarikat milik kerajaan negeri berhubung pemberian 20 meter padu air percuma.

Ketua pegawai eksekutifnya Datuk Ruslan Hassan berkata Syabas tidak bersetuju dengan kandungan surat akujanji bersyarat KDEB itu yang ditandatangani pada 6 Jun lalu dan dihantar kepada syarikat itu pagi tadi.

Surat penolakan syarikat itu telah dihantar kepada KDEB untuk tindakan lanjut, katanya, lapor Bernama.

Ruslan berkata syarikat tersebut tidak bersetuju dengan akujanji yang mencadangkan pembayaran bil-bil air yang diberikan percuma kepada pengguna hanya akan dibuat oleh KDEB selepas cadangan penstrukturan semula sistem bekalan air di Selangor siap sepenuhnya September ini.

Katanya, cadangan KDEB secara langsung menjejaskan aliran tunai Syabas dan boleh menjejaskan operasi syarikat itu.

"Oleh itu, cadangan balas Syabas ialah untuk mengebil kepada pihak KDEB setiap penghujung bulan dan pembayaran oleh KDEB kepada Syabas perlu diterima dalam tempoh 14 hari daripada penyerahan tuntutan tersebut," katanya.

Katanya, kegagalan KDEB memenuhi syarat pembayaran seperti yang dicadangkan itu akan menyebabkan Syabas terpaksa menghentikan program pemberian air percuma itu.

Khamis lepas, Khalid berkata isu pemberian 20 meter padu air percuma seperti yang dijanjikan "dianggap selesai dan akan diteruskan".

"Esok (6 Jun), selesailah dan saya rasa, Syabas akan memasukkannya dalam akaunnya," katanya, mengulas kenyataan Syabas bahawa perbincangan syarikat itu dengan kerajaan Selangor belum mencapai keputusan.

Kubica takes maiden win in dramatic Canadian Grand Prix

2008-06-09T18:35:00.000-07:00

BMW Sauber finally took their long overdue maiden victory in Montreal on Sunday, as Robert Kubica led Nick Heidfeld home in a fabulous one-two on a day when early leader Lewis Hamilton inadvertently crashed his McLaren into Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen in a pit-lane collision during the first round of refuelling stops.

As a result of his first win, Kubica now leads the world championship fight with 42 points to Hamilton and Massa’s 38 and Raikkonen’s 35.

At the start Hamilton sprinted away from pole position, leaving Kubica to fend off Raikkonen. But the safety car neutralised that when it was deployed to recover Adrian Sutil’s Force India from a dangerous position on the 17th lap.

All of the leaders pitted on Lap 19, and as Hamilton rejoined, having dropped behind Raikkonen and Kubica after a longer stop, he ran into the back of the Finn, whom he suddenly realised was stopped by the red pit-lane exit light. Both the Ferrari and the McLaren were too damaged to continue. Nico Rosberg also damaged his Williams by running into the rear of Hamilton in the incident. An additional pit visit for a new nose thus dropped the German out of contention after running fourth early on.

Heidfeld now led as, at stages before their own pit calls, did fellow one-stoppers Honda’s Rubens Barrichello, Red Bull’s David Coulthard and Toyota’s Timo Glock. Heidfeld was able to pit and rejoin ahead of Kubica, but on his two-stop strategy the Pole was clearly faster and Heidfeld had no choice but to let him go on Lap 31.

In the second part of the race the greatest threat to the Swiss-German cars came from Fernando Alonso, who was pushing his Renault hard. On Lap 44 he sneaked by Heidfeld at the hairpin, only to slide wide. A lap later he got on the power a fraction too soon exiting the second corner, and suddenly the R28 was rotating out of the race.

Kubica and Heidfeld were thus able to cruise home to a great success, as Coulthard made the most of his opportunities with a solid third place for Red Bull. A strong drive saw Glock hang on for fourth place just ahead of Massa, who had to stop twice early on after a refuelling problem, and recovered brilliantly with a drive that at one time saw him jump both Barrichello and McLaren’s Heikki Kovalainen at the hairpin.

Toyota’s Jarno Trulli got ahead of Barrichello when the Brazilian made a mistake late in the race, and Toro Rosso’s Sebastian Vettel hung on to take the final point after a gutsy performance, having started from the pit lane. Kovalainen was an unhappy ninth ahead of the recovering Rosberg, Honda’s Jenson Button (who also started from the pit lane after making some suspension set-up changes), Red Bull’s Mark Webber who ran strongly until his pit stop dropped him back and he later spun, and Sebastien Bourdais who also spun his Toro Rosso.

Giancarlo Fisichella crashed his Force India, Williams’ Kazuki Nakajima was a points contender before damaging his front wing on Button and then tobogganing into the pit wall when it folded back beneath his wheel; and Renault’s Nelson Piquet spun and retired with an unspecified mechanical problem.

BMW Sauber’s great day jumped them back to second in the constructors’ stakes with 70 points to Ferrari’s 73 and McLaren’s 53.

SUKMA - Terengganu bolot 61 emas

2008-06-09T18:33:00.000-07:00

KUALA TERENGGANU - Sukan Malaysia XII (Sukma) melabuhkan tirainya, semalam dengan Terengganu muncul juara keseluruhan dengan meraih sebanyak 61 pingat emas, 39 perak dan 47 gangsa.

Sebagai penghargaan kejayaan itu, Menteri Besarnya, Datuk Ahmad Said mengisytiharkan hari ini cuti umum.

Keunggulan Terengganu kali ini juga menyaksikan penguasaan Raja Sukma, Selangor terkubur selep as menduduki takhta Sukma enam kali sejak 1996.

Kejayaan pasukan bola sepak tuan rumah meneruskan kegemilangan selaku juara dua tahun berturut-turut mengkagumkan, malah kejayaan Terengganu memperkukuhkan pungutan pingat emas terakhir berbasikal 150 kilometer perseorangan dan berpasukan menambah lagi erti pada hari terakhir, semalam.

Selain pelumba tuan rumah, hari-hari terakhir temasya itu juga menyaksikan atlet Johor, Mohd. Saufik Ahmad menjadi atlet terakhir memecah rekod kejohanan melalui acara angkat berat kategori 105 kilogram ke atas.

Saufik berjaya melakukan angkatan 140kg dalam snatch sekali gus memecahkan rekod Abdul Azim Najmi dari Pahang dengan angkatan 132kg di Sukma XI 2006.

Secara keseluruhan, tuan rumah berjaya merangkul 61 pingat emas, angka yang tidak terfikir oleh kontinjen negeri itu apabila hanya mensasarkan 40 pingat emas pada awal temasya yang bermula pada lewat Mei lepas.

Selangor pula muncul naib juara dengan 54 emas manakala Sarawak 52 emas.

Sehingga penutup semalam, tujuh rekod kebangsaan berjaya dipecahkan melalui renang, angkat berat dan olahraga selain 48 rekod kejohanan juga diperbaharui.

Atlet renang Selangor, Foo Jian Beng diumumkan atlet terbaik selepas memungut pingat paling banyak lapan pingat terdiri tiga emas, empat (perak) dan satu (gangsa).

Sementara itu, gimnas Wilayah Persekutuan, Brenda Yap menjadi atlet wanita yang berjaya menggondol lima pingat.

Acara penutup yang dihadiri oleh Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi itu ditutup dengan gilang gemilang di mana bendera Sukma secara rasmi diturunkan dan diserahkan kepada Menteri Besar Melaka, Datuk Seri Ali Rustam sebagai wakil kontinjen Melaka yang bakal menganjurkan Sukma XIII pada 2010.

Air percuma: Syabas tolak S'gor

2008-06-09T18:29:00.001-07:00

Air percuma: Syabas tolak S'gor

2008-06-09T18:29:00.000-07:00

New Petrol and Diesel Prices Effective 5th June 2008June 4, 2008 at 5:50 pm · Filed under Local News, Malaysian Fuel Prices

2008-06-05T20:25:00.000-07:00

The following are the new prices of petrol effective from midnight tonight:

New Price Old Price
RON97 Petrol RM2.704 per liter RM1.92 per liter
RON92 Petrol RM2.62 per liter RM1.88 per liter
Diesel RM2.581 per liter RM1.58 per liter

UPDATE: Despite the PM’s announcement saying RON97 will be priced at RM2.70, motorists found out today that the actual price at the pump is RM2.704. It looks like the PM’s department could have been overenthusiastic over the whole 5 sen rounding up mechanism that was launched recently, even applying it to their announcements. Diesel price is also not RM2.58 per liter, but RM2.581 per liter.

The new price of RM2.70 includes a 30 sen government subsidy, so it is reduced from what the Prime Minister says is a market price of RM3.00 per liter. The 30 sen subsidy will be a fixed amount of subsidy that will subsidise the market rate.

The market rate will be reviewed every month. This means the market rate is RM4.50 per liter next month, we will be paying RM4.20 per liter for fuel, and if it is RM7.00 per liter, we will be paying RM6.70 per liter.

The government will be giving an additional subsidy of RM625 a year for cars with engine displacements 2000cc and below liters (joy for Mercedes-Benz C200K and E200K owners with their 1.8 liter engines, I suppose), and pick-up trucks with engine capacities up to 2,500cc. Motorcycles under 250cc will get a subsidy of RM150 per year. RM625 is said to be an equivalent of 800 liters a year, which is roughly 78 sen per liter.

Basically for the first 800 liters of fuel used per year, you’ll still be paying the old price of RM1.92 per liter. 66 liters per month is the equivalent of nearly 2 full tanks for a small compact car, or just over 1 full tank for a typical sedan. Payment of the subsidy will be made via postal order to be issued when you renew your car’s road tax annually, and payment processing will begin on the 1st of July 2008.

For those who do not qualify for the subsidy, there is some reduction in road tax prices. For cars with engine displacement of above 2000cc, road tax will be slashed by RM200. Motorcycles above 250cc will have their road tax slashed by RM50.

These changes are only temporary. As mentioned by Datuk Shahrir Samad yesterday, this will only be step one in the final plan in restructuring the way we purchase fuel in our country. These prices are still controlled prices - future prices will be a floating market rate that is not capped by the government.

The government will be moving towards abolishment of the fuel subsidy in the future, so we’d better just get used to these new prices. There is already a hint in the Prime Minister Office’s announcement which states that the cash subsidy will be for vehicles with road tax expiring between the 1st of April 2008 until the 31st of March 2009. What happens after that?

READ: Full announcement at Prime Minister’s Office Website

UPDATE: The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs has lifted the ban on foreign cars refilling their fuel tanks at petrol stations 50km from the country’s Thailand and Singapore borders. Foreign cars can now refuel as they wish.

Permalink

292 Comments »
kington said,
June 4, 2008 @ 5:54 pm

Paul,

I thought this was only going to take effect in August? But as at now, i’m already receiving heaps of SMS and e-mails bout this and i’m very sure our kiasu Malaysians are all queuing up at the petrol stations now.

mct said,
June 4, 2008 @ 5:56 pm

omg
so mahal ah
we should change the G
the problem will solve once and for all

zidane said,
June 4, 2008 @ 6:07 pm

man…..this is ridiculous….

and the process of getting the RM 625 will cost additional tracking, processes etc…. and you have to open a new deparment for that too…..

n8cky said,
June 4, 2008 @ 6:07 pm

My friend serves as PA for P115 sent me this sms..
Better go queue up now.

n8cky said,
June 4, 2008 @ 6:12 pm

800 lil? 5-6months for a short distance office.
4-5 months for long distance office, eg. K.L - cyberjaya
3-4 months for a sales rep..zzz

Yay, no one wants to work as sale anymore..

csv said,
June 4, 2008 @ 6:13 pm

whew, good thing i pumped full all my cars yesterday, better be prepared than underprepared.

so i guess from here on out, our fuel prices will keep going up till it becomes market rate in august?

n8cky said,
June 4, 2008 @ 6:14 pm

Paul, why not you start a politics forum?..
seems ur paultan.org automotive industry, had became

paultan.org politic forums..

Cheers Malaysia new G..

HKPOH said,
June 4, 2008 @ 6:18 pm

how about for all the lorries? so it means
fuel price increase –> transport for our food increase –> food increase

so we are going to get more expensive again, this is inflation la, why our G having a so simple mind until they never think of this?

SLK 850 said,
June 4, 2008 @ 6:20 pm

i’m goin to fix my BM-X for now…

tHe CuLpRit said,
June 4, 2008 @ 6:20 pm

Cue long lines at petrol stations today.

Also, I guess those looking at Camry/Mazda 6/Accord may opt for the lower cc option now.

rm120, ok la…. that’s like my 2 months of my bike fuel bill covered

sudha said,
June 4, 2008 @ 6:24 pm

Well….the rise in fuel prices were not avoidable as we have seen how global fuel prices were affecting the market.

We just have to prepared to fork out the real market price when the time comes.

But what bugs me is the cash rebate when we renew our road taxes….why do we still need road taxes?

We are already paying a lot of tolls…what is the point of paying road taxes?…ok…so road taxes remain…is the Giverment or the relevant agencies going to consider reducing the toll charges in all the highways by 40% at least?…

Now the other thing that worries me is that how this new fuel pricing is gong to affect our livelihood.

People, brace for a substantial hike in consumer goods!

chanlman said,
June 4, 2008 @ 6:25 pm

How about renewing the ROADTAX half-yearly? Is the amount of subsidy being pro-rated by Month/ days?

If its taking effect tonight, midnight, then those people who just register their car today have to WAIT full 12 months to get subsidy which means GOVT might be changed already. Then what’s the backup plan?

car_craze said,
June 4, 2008 @ 6:27 pm

Craze! But then petrol will never get cheaper due to supply always exceeding demands. Long term solution, install NGV for my car until it gets too expensive, then revert to motorbikes or Kancils with NGV!
I hope the G will cut road tax further and reduce sales tax on cars to off set the high petrol prices.

HKPOH said,
June 4, 2008 @ 6:28 pm

how about the lorries? so that means our food price will increase?

fuel increase –> transport price increase –> food price increase
this is what we called inflation.

simple calculation and our G does know that

mofo said,
June 4, 2008 @ 6:29 pm

We’ll see more and more necessity items increase also. Is G indirectly ask us to talk with our employer demand for increment on our salary.

Please if any minsters read this. Don’t ask us to change our lifestyle, YOU should not us.

zidane said,
June 4, 2008 @ 6:30 pm

Dear G….

I have an idea. You can charge us the fuel prices without subsidy BUT you get rid of the sales tax….

hlteh said,
June 4, 2008 @ 6:31 pm

Petrol price keep increase. one question can wira 1.5M injection use Ron 92? thinkin of using Ron 92 since its cheaper 8 sen per litre

sudha said,
June 4, 2008 @ 6:32 pm

here is another interesting point to ponder, with rising fuel prices, most malaysians may opt for public transport to commute to work.

Given the current state of our public transportation system, are the government and the relevant authorities planning to do anything about it?

i seriously dont know how the relevant agencies and transport operators are going to improved their sorry state of service.

viperlsm said,
June 4, 2008 @ 6:33 pm

How about those ppl with many cars but use only once in a while, can get free money from gov??

stevarac said,
June 4, 2008 @ 6:34 pm

The thing is RM 625 barely cover for the running a car around town , but the bigger impact will be the downstream impact on all the basic items. Traders / hawkers will again use this excuse to increase price of foodstuff. RM625 will be peanuts compare to the expected price increase of essential items.Those without any own transport will also suffer GREATLY from this increase and yet they are not getting any subsidy. Looks like , again the POOR will be hit the hardest.

The gov must do better than this.

sudha said,
June 4, 2008 @ 6:35 pm

Hey..how about this?

My boss just mentioned this:

“Since we are paying real price for fuel, we should pay real price for cars too”

How about that?

power8003 said,
June 4, 2008 @ 6:36 pm

It has been confirm by the local newspaper that the petrol price will increase midnight today. So better go and pump your petrol today

Martin said,
June 4, 2008 @ 6:41 pm

hmmm, now very concern is the commercial vehicles (lorries). how are they gonna survive unless some special subsidies are given. because that’ll probably increase the cost of production, then we’ll loss an edge to attract FDI. we already heard some strikes from UK’s lorry driviers and European fishermen back in a week before.

another major concern is middle and low income earners, this’ll give them a very hard time if monthly income’s less than 3k (my personal view). this’ll give a total hit to retail sector contributing to low consumption, low investment, growing unemployment (this’ll take longer term to be effect).

God bless. i hope we won’t fall near poverty line.

twom said,
June 4, 2008 @ 6:42 pm

What happened to the Petronas RM600 billion cash reserves. Why can they use that money to stabilise the petrol and diesel price in here? I wonder how a person who monthly income amounting to RM2,000 or even RM4,000 can cope with the rising of the inflations? Crazy. I just hope that this coming UMNO AGM that new leadership will lower the price and not removing the subsidy of the petrol and diesel.

Well this is actually the beginning of the story of how plain roti canai price become RM2.00.

sumaika said,
June 4, 2008 @ 6:43 pm

what about car with 1999 c.c?

ProtonSucks said,
June 4, 2008 @ 6:44 pm

RIDICULOUS!!!!!They keep saying our G cant afford the high subsidy.but aren’t we the petrol exporter??Petronas earn so much.i understand we will be the net petrol importer soon. but we have been paying one of the highest car tax for more than ten yrs. WHERE IS THE MONEY?can anyone tell me?I agree we should not use too much money on petrol subsidy. but the problem is under our BRILLIANT G management, our economy is still considered very poor relative to other country which do not have oil,gas,high car tax bla bla bla….Most of the rakyat standard of living is still poor. Our salary not increasing, but cost of living keep increasing. Why singapore does not suffer the inflation as much as we do?Becoz their economy is good,singaporean get good salary compare to their standard of living. Our G- please go to hell.

gonggok said,
June 4, 2008 @ 6:46 pm

USED KANCIL PRICES GOING UP!!!!

hyundai said,
June 4, 2008 @ 6:46 pm

At least most people will be subsidised… So good luck for those who drive big capacity car…

keretakura said,
June 4, 2008 @ 6:49 pm

Ha ha … congrat to all BN voters …. voted for “Barang Naik”
NEW G will comin next election … he he … jangan maree ye …

tHe CuLpRit said,
June 4, 2008 @ 6:50 pm

One way to see how much you will be paying more for the next 1 year….

Average your fuel bill and total it to a year, say rm2800 p/a + 40% (which is the increase percentage i think), then minus rm600 for the subsidy.

We’re looking at an increase in expense for the above fella at around rm500, after subsidy.

ntchong said,
June 4, 2008 @ 6:56 pm

Yet the G said they already stop protecting national car makers. Looks like Proton shares is going to go up….

neoracing87 said,
June 4, 2008 @ 6:57 pm

I agree this is ridiculous too…

I sense a rebellion coming up……

tycoon88 said,
June 4, 2008 @ 6:59 pm

This was also quoted by the Edge Online…

• Power sector gas raised to RM14 from RM6.40 per mmbtu; IPPs pay 30% windfall tax on PBIT; Tenaga can raise tariffs by next month.

Spiralling effect on increased cost of living if you ask me. Embrace for more sickening announcements.

Paul Tan said,
June 4, 2008 @ 7:03 pm

The domino effect has already begun - tenaga nasional to raise electricity rates by 18% for home users and 26% for business users

4G63T DSM said,
June 4, 2008 @ 7:06 pm

So I guess now I will buy an Evo fun car….

and use its subsidies to feed the daily driven satria…hahaha

After all, after road tax is till 200 in the pocket for fuel.

Now, if these changes are only temporary, what about some of us that just renewed our roadtax? Is this thing even pro-rated?

So lets see, If i buy several small cc cars and keep at home, I can collect quite the number of subsidies? I can already see plenty of “ghost” cars. After all the road tax for a kancil is what? $30/yr? thats $600 in the pocket. hmm..I technically can fit 6 cars in my drive…..more if I cement up my lawn…..

osh_kosh said,
June 4, 2008 @ 7:11 pm

ok… i dunno about u guys but my petrol bill for last year almost RM12k… & it was not lower than RM10k during last few year…

so, let me just go lesser.. RM11k per year so last year i’m using 477liters of petrol per month.. using the new price it should cost me RM1287.90 per month & RM 15,454.80 per year… an increase of RM4,454.80 if i’m still using the same amount of fuel…

G want to give me back RM625 via postal order? hahaha.. what a joke, i don’t want it!! now let us prepare for all thing to go up… good luck guys…

superookie said,
June 4, 2008 @ 7:18 pm

2 word to describe..
hai lat..

chee89 said,
June 4, 2008 @ 7:21 pm

sigh..
even Mahathir abandon ship on BN and UMNO.
think smart and start voting for the other guy..

mofo said,
June 4, 2008 @ 7:21 pm

“No eye to see”

droll said,
June 4, 2008 @ 7:25 pm

i dun understand why the price increase is always last minute. no grace period?

so anyone wanna rush out n spend 2k for a 30 year old car to qualify for the subsidy?

osh_kosh said,
June 4, 2008 @ 7:27 pm

what the reasons for TNB move??? AFAIK TNB uses charcoal in 70% of its power plant (correct me if i’m wrong) and almost all of independent power plant ‘operator’ that supply power to TNB use the same fuel… the funny things is they (TNB) bought this fuel by contract which mean that the price already ‘locked’… so tell me why? and plz don’t bullsh*t me coz i’m in this line!

p/s: & yes, sometimes they do buy charcoal with the current market price but that not always the case, only if they had a shortage (coz some darn engineer miss calculated the amount of fuel they really need to run!!)

droll said,
June 4, 2008 @ 7:27 pm

how did they work out rm625 to be 800litres per year??? if i get cash, n i bring it to the ump, won’t i be paying pump rates?????

freeze said,
June 4, 2008 @ 7:29 pm

Is this RM625 subsidy for per person? or can one person have many cars and claim for all cars?

droll said,
June 4, 2008 @ 7:30 pm

so when we finally go market rates, i can guarantee we will not get any direct benefits back….bugger. no car tax reduction

freeze said,
June 4, 2008 @ 7:31 pm

anyway for most people TNB increase 18%, not much issue. If small family like mine, monthly about RM55 so new price RM65, no probs.

mytouch said,
June 4, 2008 @ 7:35 pm

Donno what the hell is the gioverment is thinking…compensate subsidies vua postal,waht a “clever idea”…i bet in the end will got alor of “red tape” issue going on,& will see more wakil2 shouthing in the Parlimen…I donno why the hell we still need to pay for roadtax & rediculous car taxes…The goverment sekejap say wana implement Mykad subsidies system,tehn sekejap ban neighbour people for filling petrol within 50km range,then then sekejap say new petrol price will only be implement on August…haiz,i think just wait for another 5 yers,then we will see “Tsunami” again…

eugeneat said,
June 4, 2008 @ 7:52 pm

How many liters does a barrel of oil contain? Does a google search it was from 153 liters to 220 liters. Anyone has any idea?

crasher7 said,
June 4, 2008 @ 7:55 pm

REDUCE THE OTR PRICE OF HYBRID CARS!!!!

n8cky said,
June 4, 2008 @ 7:58 pm

Abolish P1 and mobile import tax, sell me ur petrol at original price..I’ll enjoy it!!!!!

n8cky said,
June 4, 2008 @ 7:59 pm

Worst, sell petronas crude to local market!!!
Where’s Annuar?

engtaokia said,
June 4, 2008 @ 8:04 pm

time to change government laaa…
very disappointed already…
Singapore: car exp, coe exp, but salary high, public transport excellent
Indonesia: car cheaper, petrol expensive
Thailand: car cheaper, petrol expensive
Bolehland: car EXPENSIVE, petrol NOW ALSO EXPENSIVE

need to go work oversea liaw..

t(=.=t)

n8cky said,
June 4, 2008 @ 8:07 pm

At the end of the day, G won, We citizen lose..
Stop paying tax, see what can the G do..

KaZ said,
June 4, 2008 @ 8:07 pm

V-Power is priced at RM3.15

orangetribal said,
June 4, 2008 @ 8:09 pm

farking arsehole G!what is rm625 only?wtf

giyzmo said,
June 4, 2008 @ 8:15 pm

i dont mind the price increase for petrol but G should ebolish all sales tax and import tax…

alihms said,
June 4, 2008 @ 8:16 pm

RM 2.7 from 1.92. That’s 40.6% increase! So, guys, multiply your monthly fuel expenses by 40.6%. On top of that, multiply electricity bill by 18%
Multiply your montly food expenses by 40%. Services (hair cut, car-wash etc) by 40%. Clothing -40%, Kids tuition fees by 40%. bla.. bla bla..

If your monthly expenses is RM 2K, now the bill jumps to RM 2.8K. That’s RM800 increase! …. and the gov will pay you back a pittance of RM 625 / 12 = RM52 a month.

Good, very good. Thank you Pak Lah!

dcwhz83 said,
June 4, 2008 @ 8:21 pm

this is ridiculous… i dont see any reduction in car import tax or road tax… rebates is not an answer…

the hard-core poor with no cars or motorcycles will have no subsidy at all… but remember that they need to eat everyday as well… they will feel the pinch with food prices rising over 50% increase over the last few years… inflation index might be saying 2-3% annual inflation, but it did not take into account what a normal person would eat… rice, fuel, electricity… the 3 main items has increased… while water is not so relevant as its too cheap to be considered for the hard core poor…

petronas is improving its profit every year,,, giving huge bonuses every year… and they are doing nothing to give back the rakyat… Petronas is built to help the rakyat, not to help it sponsor F1 or help some people that are being chaffuered around…

n8cky said,
June 4, 2008 @ 8:26 pm

Great, now u can see less car on the road.

And i bet, the public transportation doesn’t looks well either..
Probably, the LRT, KTM or wat-so-over will have technical issue at higher frequent, know la…buatan Malaysia..Malaysia Boleh!
Or..buses flew everywhere, create more pollution, then Al-Gore will come with his private jet to hit our PM head..:P (immediate effect)

So we just walk like China? From Wangsa Maju to Kepong, or should i carry my laptop to see my client at Subang by walking there? Maybe cycling is the best way? People get exited on getting more civilized, and we’re playing reverse mode now, will the jap comes?

Or they’re inventing some alternative like the telepot portal?
Then the g probably charge walking tax, by-pass tax, for whoever walk through the portal?
Know la..the G will die if they stop looting the Rakyat money..

Then ends-up walking tax, by-pass tax, yawning tax, talking tax, shower tax or sleeping tax? Will they subsidy if I pee on grass?Bikin Dosa tau?..

Omg, this issue really drove me to MM mode..

Just bitching here, take it easy:)

aaron_38my said,
June 4, 2008 @ 8:27 pm

PM must be dethroned n the G should start thinking like a normal consumer! Merdeka merdeka merdeka konon….I want to see how many ppl would celebrate merdeka this year. My roti canai breakfast used to cost 80 cents, then came the fuel price hike, it became RM1, now with the current hike, I’ll be eating grass and stones instead! When I had my 850cc Kancil, it took RM20 to fill a full tank, then RM25, then RM30. NOW?? OMG!! This is Malaysia lah, Pak Lah, not UK or US. We are original and if you’re good, fuel price is something I’m sure even Tun Mahathir would seldom touch on.
Another thing is they keep saying our fuel prices are still comparably cheap from other nations. Why compare price? Compare quality first la! Malaysia is a weird nation, OUT with the good oil and IN with the bad oil. As the DAP had mentioned, MAT DUK HEI GA (Everything increase price)!
One of our local politician mentioned to us, encourage your children to use public transport to go to school eg, bas sekolah n public buses. But his children goes to school by Mercedeses and Bimmers.

ebayer said,
June 4, 2008 @ 8:27 pm

How is RM625 equivalent to 800 litres of petrol?

rosdi said,
June 4, 2008 @ 8:28 pm

Who says RM625 for Kancil can last 3-4 months? I am a salesperson driving a Kancil.. RM625 will only last 2 months!

So is the Civic Hybrid a smart choice now??

ebayer said,
June 4, 2008 @ 8:29 pm

How is RM625 equal to 800 liters of petrol?

Poorman said,
June 4, 2008 @ 8:29 pm

Agreed. The many types of car taxes should be abolished or reduced. Save your money for hybrids now.

btw, prepare to eat instant noodles everyday

pheonix_comet said,
June 4, 2008 @ 8:29 pm

The truth has finally arrive. For people with low earning, it is like armargeddon for them. Our government always say a well develop country should has low % poor people. Instead of making less, they are creating more.
we should ask: “How are we going to survive?” Are your boss going to raise your pay tomorrow? Even if we survive today, can we survive tomorrow? Are we able to give our children a brighter tomorrow?
FYI, we at Sarawak here now is buying a pack of rice at the price of RM50++.
Working hard to earn money to have a better life instead, now … sad…
We serve the best for our country, what does they repay you.
Malaysia BOLEH… does this slogan still works?
Rich are getting more rich and poor are getting worst.
Sooner or later, there will be more robbering, break into houses case will happen. We will be living in darkness. With every step we make outside the house, will be nightmare. Home Sweet Home. Does it still exist?
Whats the reason of living if everyday we are fighting for MONEY.
When will tomorrow comes. ^_^

rosdi said,
June 4, 2008 @ 8:31 pm

> Worst, sell petronas crude to local market!!!
> Where’s Annuar?

Anwar lah bodoh! not Annuar!

aaron_38my said,
June 4, 2008 @ 8:35 pm

Phoenix,
let me help you there with your statement,
“Working hard to earn money to have a better life instead, now …”
now we’re working hard TO SURVIVE! The rich are getting wealthier and the poor are getting worse. WHY fuel price? Why Pak Lah!? Rice had gone from RM3+ to RM5+ a sack!

n8cky said,
June 4, 2008 @ 8:36 pm

A fresh gratz with a Bachelor, gets RM2,600.00

Ehm, from my point of view..
Probably the fresh grads will have to squad by the road to eat grass..or waiting for the G “qualified/professional” personnel to pass-by for 1 Ringgit?
Lotz of fresh grads thou..every year..

The G “professional” is okay ‘la’..they earn here..n uses on their kids abroad..Not a big deal..

Why not using “Suk Hoi” and “Kapal Selam” commission to contribute into subsidy?Not bad wat, these commissionsss..

Poorman said,
June 4, 2008 @ 8:37 pm

petrol price is one thing, prepare for all rise in a chain reaction……

xenith said,
June 4, 2008 @ 8:38 pm

Just got back from petrol station. Waited bout 10 mins to get petrol….

n8cky said,
June 4, 2008 @ 8:40 pm

yay, tmr i’l’ bring my whole family + puppy to beg at petaling street..
Who wants to join me?we share transport, save petrol..
or u have other better spot?

revive said,
June 4, 2008 @ 8:44 pm

No comment, just three words..WTF!!

ProtonSucks said,
June 4, 2008 @ 8:49 pm

revive, u r funny.

enginerd_2008 said,
June 4, 2008 @ 8:56 pm

very drastic price increment… hoho.. our G want to “BALAS DENDAM” to rakyat i think for the PRU12..hehe.. OR… BALAS DENDAM to singaporean for ‘PULAU BATU PUTIH’ thehehe… yes, it is true they can use that money to create more mega project..but.. the labour still foreign labour, not malaysian at all…

ezralimm said,
June 4, 2008 @ 9:03 pm

ProtonSucks said,
June 4, 2008 @ 6:44 pm
RIDICULOUS!!!!!They keep saying our G cant afford the high subsidy.but aren’t we the petrol exporter??Petronas earn so much.i understand we will be the net petrol importer soon. but we have been paying one of the highest car tax for more than ten yrs. WHERE IS THE MONEY?can anyone tell me?I agree we should not use too much money on petrol subsidy. but the problem is under our BRILLIANT G management, our economy is still considered very poor relative to other country which do not have oil,gas,high car tax bla bla bla….Most of the rakyat standard of living is still poor. Our salary not increasing, but cost of living keep increasing. Why singapore does not suffer the inflation as much as we do?Becoz their economy is good,singaporean get good salary compare to their standard of living. Our G- please go to hell.
__________________________________________________

Things are relative ya know. I’d recommend reading up on global economics before making such a post. In just 50 years the quality of life of malaysians has improved substantially - ask any 70-80yr old person about prosperity… the youth dont see it as they are not old enough.

You cant compare a country with a city state like singapore. And if you thought that oil was a blessing, think again - almost every developing countriy blessed with oil ended up becoming hopelessly corrupt.

Affordability wise, cars have become much much much more affordable in the past years, hence the rise in car numbers on the roads. Car ownership is still considerably more expensive in our two neighbouring countries - thailand and singapore.

The only real point in your post, i believe, is the point about Petronas… although you must realize that our country’s wealth is supplemented rather than reliant on OnG revenue. Yup, a majority of our wealth comes from industry - not petroleum. OnG has supplemented the economy for some time now, and at current consumption levels it cannot continue to do so indefinitely.

The picture is alot more complicated in real life.

There is much beneath the surface.

mits27 said,
June 4, 2008 @ 9:04 pm

What I don’t understand is why we need to pay expensive fuel and we are net exporting fuel country…

You out, BN…

AyohMatt said,
June 4, 2008 @ 9:05 pm

I never bother to comment here before… but in the wake of today’s (tomorrow’s) fuel increases, something need to be said.

What consideration the G took with this announcement to curb the rises of goods around the country?

Retailers HAVE to increase the goods price since the suppliers WILL increase their prices. The business people, especially in RETAIL will effected and this will DIRECTLY effected US, consumer!

We are not talking just fuel prices here… like someone mentioned above, this will create a chain reaction that even the semi-rich will effected… just imagine what the mid-class and the poor will feel like??

It’s soo inconsiderate for the G to announce this without any master plan to curb massive goods prices increases and in the middle of SUKMA Games in Terengganu!

The G cant even wait for the SUKMA to end? I feel sorry for thousands of people/athletes outside Terengganu to go back to their states feeling betrayed by their own G!

Roti Naan said,
June 4, 2008 @ 9:06 pm

We all should stop paying income tax. In consequences, polis come and stuff us in jail. ( but for sure, the jail in not enuf for the rakyat), Then, the whole malaysia economy comes to stand still.

The we shall see how the govt will do…….with zero income.

oyl78 said,
June 4, 2008 @ 9:07 pm

this price hike really make the town havoc, everywhere everyone cue at the petrol station waiting for their turn…. people in rush nvr thought of waiting in the long cue could cost them more as the petrol keep burning, end up they might be paying the same amount of $$ if they pump it next day with the new price…

we should more concern about the community as the price seems to be very expensive for the mat rempit to carry on their daily routine

hazremi said,
June 4, 2008 @ 9:08 pm

enginerd_2008,

you wanna work as local labour?

I bet you won’t like the idea, so am I,so the rest of Malaysian.

kevyeoh said,
June 4, 2008 @ 9:11 pm

i am damn pissed…oh hell yeah…damn freaking pissed off…
it’s so easy for them to announce the price of petrol going up…
what about our car prices? you want the petrol to be at market rate…fine…please sell the car at market rate also… so now we have expensive car as well as expensive petrol…

Barang Naik… yeah…thanks to you!!!

mystvearn said,
June 4, 2008 @ 9:11 pm

Petrol increase has nothing to do with politics. Its the global market demand. G forgot to mention that they need to hit mat rempits. Fuel increase, like this I can use my Realrewards card for my kriss1. Maybe RM10 full tank now..No its more. Nearly RM12

mystvearn said,
June 4, 2008 @ 9:16 pm

Paul, can you make a retrospective review of the fuel prices. How the hell did we started with subsidies to where with no subsidies now?

SY0H said,
June 4, 2008 @ 9:21 pm

fear has come into realization; fuel subsidy removed. Damn it, what’s going on to this country? Everything “naik harga”. Now I understand why the Islam teachings taught its followers to pay “zakat”, give “sedekah” and avoid “riba” (raising price of goods irresponsibly).
Now capitalism is having its finest moment. I’m very certain somebody is making money out from this chaos. The richer is getting much richer and the poor is getting much poorer. With the price of fuel increase, it is going to have a very high impact on our consumer’s goods and lifestyle. “Domino effect” is inevitable. The price of food, utilities bills, public transportation and other commodities will be affected as well. What the heck the big “G” is doing all this time?
Tun Dr. Mahathir is right; he had foreseen the weakness of our Prime Minister 1 year even before the general election. I really do suggest the UMNO members to form the “New UMNO: Semangat 35” to outcast Pak Lah and his gang from the cabinet. The only thing which hardly changes is our monthly salary. Damn it! Now I’m all out for war.

SY0H said,
June 4, 2008 @ 9:22 pm

Dear All,
Our worst fear has come into realization; fuel subsidy removed. Damn it, what’s going on to this country? Everything “naik harga”. Now I understand why the Islam teachings taught its followers to pay “zakat”, give “sedekah” and avoid “riba” (raising price of goods irresponsibly).
Now capitalism is having its finest moment. I’m very certain somebody is making money out from this chaos. The richer is getting much richer and the poor is getting much poorer. With the price of fuel increase, it is going to have a very high impact on our consumer’s goods and lifestyle. “Domino effect” is inevitable. The price of food, utilities bills, public transportation and other commodities will be affected as well. What the heck the big “G” is doing all this time?
Tun Dr. Mahathir is right; he had foreseen the weakness of our Prime Minister 1 year even before the general election. I really do suggest the UMNO members to form the “New UMNO: Semangat 35” to outcast Pak Lah and his gang from the cabinet. The only thing which hardly changes is our monthly salary. Damn it! Now I’m all out for war.

finaldream said,
June 4, 2008 @ 9:25 pm

thanks a lot to all bn voters, because of them, we are in hell rite now. Barisan NAJIS!. f!@k pak lah. what about the poor people using old car? the food prices? the inflation? totally pak lah is a bengong pm. he has a lower minded coz rising the fuel prices is the alternative in his head. 7 TIMES OIL PRICES INCREASED UNDER BN, CRAZY!!!. DARAH PAK LAH HALAL DIBUNU…Hhhhhh

kei9 said,
June 4, 2008 @ 9:26 pm

THats why global warming SUCKS!!! Pls reflect everything we do everyday. GLOBAL-crisis here.

enginerd_2008 said,
June 4, 2008 @ 9:29 pm

hazremi said,

June 4, 2008 @ 9:08 pm

you wanna work as local labour?

I bet you won’t like the idea, so am I,so the rest of Malaysia

–> i’m already an engineer..no need to work as a labour..hoohoho.. let’s see what will happen.. for sure, something will happen…

mystvearn said,

June 4, 2008 @ 9:11 pm

Petrol increase has nothing to do with politics.

yes. its true:) but, not all malaysian understand about the real problem as well Mr.Mystvearn.. so they will blame BN, i am really sure about that…

BW said,
June 4, 2008 @ 9:33 pm

Sighs… I’m supposed to be out now but my transport is stuck in the jam since 7pm (now 9.30pm) all because of the long queue at the shell station near my house… the fuel up by 78 cents is really crazy.. My parents both are in a bad mood now all because of this fuel increase thingy..

finaldream said,
June 4, 2008 @ 9:42 pm

hazremi said,

June 4, 2008 @ 9:08 pm

you wanna work as local labour?

I bet you won’t like the idea, so am I,so the rest of Malaysia

–> i’m already an engineer..no need to work as a labour..hoohoho.. let’s see what will happen.. for sure, something will happen…

mystvearn said,

June 4, 2008 @ 9:11 pm

Petrol increase has nothing to do with politics.

yes. its true:) but, not all malaysian understand about the real problem as well Mr.Mystvearn.. so they will blame BN, i am really sure about that…
————————————————————

these two jackass had spoken. tell me that you are really happy by this announcement? petrol is related with politic, with food, with life. so bangang. if u anak menteri u can share with ur father’s oil,ok!? u r selfish and otak udang.

Kevin Lee said,
June 4, 2008 @ 10:00 pm

you guys are lucky for those who managed to squeeze thru in 10 mins time

there was chaos in esso sunway. a normal 5 minute affair finally took 30 mins. i went out at 8.45 pm and managed to pump petrol at 9:15 PM. i took some pics of the 1.92 price on the pump. thats just for memory sakes. anyways, i pity those people who queued so long and probably not getting any petrol. i think theres a quota in petrol stations like every week, so sudden increase in pumping would just deplete the station completely

tommykaira said,
June 4, 2008 @ 10:04 pm

yeahh….just got back …took an hour plus…the queue was so longggggg…….damn it…..”ubah gaye hidup” yeah rite…more like ubah kerajaan…..just cannot believe it went up 78 sens in an instant….i pity those who r frm the lower income group as well as students….imagine trying to support a famly of 5 with a 3k - 4k salary…its just crazy under these conditions….

sean8509 said,
June 4, 2008 @ 10:08 pm

finally,these had come,i sense revolt begin,rakyat time to speak out your word

RX-ate said,
June 4, 2008 @ 10:12 pm

Today will be one of the darkest days in Malaysia’s history.

The Gov has not done enough to imoprove the standard living of all Malaysians.

Well, eventhough the fuel prices in countries such as Indo and Thai are expensive, at least their car prices are much cheaper than ours.

The Gov simply needs to do more to compensate for the fuel hike than the RM625 yearly rebate for cars under 2000cc.

We Malaysians are deeply dissapointed by the news. To the lower income group, the news comes as a tragedy. Some might have to cut down a few meals a week to compensate for the higher oil prices.

Car taxes needs to be cut down and salary needs to be increased.

ProtonSucks said,
June 4, 2008 @ 10:16 pm

ezralimm said

Things are relative ya know. I’d recommend reading up on global economics before making such a post. In just 50 years the quality of life of malaysians has improved substantially - ask any 70-80yr old person about prosperity… the youth dont see it as they are not old enough.

You cant compare a country with a city state like singapore. And if you thought that oil was a blessing, think again - almost every developing countriy blessed with oil ended up becoming hopelessly corrupt.

Affordability wise, cars have become much much much more affordable in the past years, hence the rise in car numbers on the roads. Car ownership is still considerably more expensive in our two neighbouring countries - thailand and singapore.

The only real point in your post, i believe, is the point about Petronas… although you must realize that our country’s wealth is supplemented rather than reliant on OnG revenue. Yup, a majority of our wealth comes from industry - not petroleum. OnG has supplemented the economy for some time now, and at current consumption levels it cannot continue to do so indefinitely.

The picture is alot more complicated in real life.

There is much beneath the surface.
———————————-
First of all, no offense to u.
1)when we talk abt prosperity.Of coz it has improved substantially, and it has to be. We have so much resources and we should have done much much better than this.
2)If we dun compare the better, should i compare to Sierra Leone?if then we will never improve.
3)Again, “affordable wise”, u are comparing the past….. For most of the malaysians, they are only affordable less quality national car.
4)I agree the subsidy cannot continue indefinitely. I am more than agree if you said the corruption cannot continue indefinitely. This is the main point i indicated, hence i agree your last sentence - The picture is alot more complicated in real life. There is much beneath the surface.

DamnBN said,
June 4, 2008 @ 10:20 pm

I hope those who voted for BN have deep regrets now. This country is screwed for so long and yet the rakyat still support the G.

Now that the the PM is standing on very shaky grounds with not much $$$ to play with….what he is trying to do is to find some $$$ which he can savage before he leave office.

maserati said,
June 4, 2008 @ 10:21 pm

Good,now hopefully will have less jams on the road.Maybe this is just a tactic by the G to reduce traffic jams in M’sia…Good joB!

arie1968 said,
June 4, 2008 @ 10:21 pm

car prices should be cheaper as petrol prices rise…..
effect immediately…..
you will see all ‘barang’ and other thing prices will rise….

droll said,
June 4, 2008 @ 10:22 pm

game over!!!

baldwin said,
June 4, 2008 @ 10:22 pm

it’s crazy to raise it over 40% at one go. At least if $2.30/L still ok lar.

and wht?..RM 625?.Thts like 52 bucks a month only..whts the difference?..

This is just so WRONG! Nonsense!
Call up a big strike somewhere in KL 2mrw!

moha774 said,
June 4, 2008 @ 10:22 pm

Finaldream, you are pointing your fingers to the wrong guy (read carefully) and the real idiot would be the guy who announce about price increase during the after office peak hour…. I bet he doesn’t know anything about after office traffic jam since he got his chauffered official car and police escorts… this thing never happen before, announcement were made during prime time news and save thousands from traffic jam…

enginerd_2008 said,
June 4, 2008 @ 10:27 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOAkfhOZeoM&feature=related
look at this FIRST …we should sokong Anwar, hohoho… lets change the G! give him a chance..

White Jack said,
June 4, 2008 @ 10:38 pm

I am going to buy one Honda C70 cub chai for going around nearby area (but not within walking distance)

a18 said,
June 4, 2008 @ 10:40 pm

dear all,

all disappointment noted.

other than work extra hard….what else can we do further?

lets hope the price will not change after Sept coz earlier rumours said…it could reach RM4.00/liter if it is 100% non subsidize and our G is moving to this direction.

ENZO said,
June 4, 2008 @ 10:42 pm

fortunately, i manage to fill up full tank by coincident, hahahahahahaha

mylpjsmy said,
June 4, 2008 @ 10:44 pm

Thats why, at time like this, ‘work hard’ especially for those working for others, fixed salary is not enough to survive, because the employer will not raise the salary. So, in order to survive, we have to look for alternative solution to earn more income. Have u all notice when there is inflation, there is a lot of multi level marketing company appear in the market, n many ppl tat venture into this alternative business will have a turn around in life, to a better standard of living. Honestly, i’m into this business now, no other choice to survive, we have to work together with everyone to survive, help each other, tat is the purpose of network marketing, not working for ourself but working with ppls. Some of u might think joining this kind of mlm business is to cheat ppl money, i hav to say wat u think is not true. Yes, i also agree not everyone will succeed in this area, thats law of this universe, some will and some won’t. For any feedback on wat i said is most welcome, wat i just said is just giving out a solution, it’s up to u to accept it or not. Lets cheer for a better life coming ahead =)

allessioz said,
June 4, 2008 @ 10:49 pm

can we change the G now???=.=

they only know how to increase, increase and increase the price to burden the people.
and they also like to compare our petrol to the imported country.
What the G is that??

game over now..
going back to the life of 2 wheels.
haiz

siacw said,
June 4, 2008 @ 10:49 pm

how to get the roadtax rebate?

mitlanevo said,
June 4, 2008 @ 10:54 pm

sigh… received about 30-40 sms since afternoon, claiming that fuel price will go crazy again starting tomorrow…. SWEAT~

Government, F**K you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! why not discard the road tax?????

the fuel price is now almost same with neighbouring countries, but we are still getting old Euro standard, F**K you again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

minyak naik harga, beras naik harga, soon electricity also naik harga….. damn it…..

enginerd_2008 said,
June 4, 2008 @ 10:57 pm

a18 said,

June 4, 2008 @ 10:40 pm

dear all,

all disappointment noted.

other than work extra hard….what else can we do further?

lets hope the price will not change after Sept coz earlier rumours said…it could reach RM4.00/liter if it is 100% non subsidize and our G is moving to this direction.
——————————————————–
ya lor, everyone very very dissapointed…

Cyberkayu said,
June 4, 2008 @ 11:07 pm

wah~~!!
rushing out just now
lot of petrol station already dry of petrol d

NeedGoodCar said,
June 4, 2008 @ 11:15 pm

I think the G should also seriously consider to abolish the mad tax on non-national car. Get Accord 2.4 to sell at around RM100k as this is the price now selling in Langkawi.

Doing away with the subsidies is a good idea provided that the savings are fairly distributed to all the rakyat as well as channeled to more productive means.

Kinda hard to digest as we have petronas and why the price has gone up so much?

Xcars said,
June 4, 2008 @ 11:17 pm

POLITICAL TSUNAMI in March…….

NOW…. PETROL TSUNAMI…….

WHAT”S NEXT??? POOR PEOPLE TSUNAMI???

exdua said,
June 4, 2008 @ 11:19 pm

Brilliant idea from the government, now no car under 2000cc will dodge paying road tax:P

no1fans said,
June 4, 2008 @ 11:21 pm

tomorow all cars stay at home… All Malaysian walking to office

manslump said,
June 4, 2008 @ 11:21 pm

are we suppose to help the low and middle income?? why gov give the rebate to all car under 2000cc?? this is nonsense…. rich or poor u will still get the rebate!! plz come with a better way to do this… or plz DSAI take over the country to help malaysian in distress…. ;(

osh_kosh said,
June 4, 2008 @ 11:22 pm

freeze said,
June 4, 2008 @ 7:31 pm

anyway for most people TNB increase 18%, not much issue. If small family like mine, monthly about RM55 so new price RM65, no probs.

—> again our famous Malaysian answer.. “tak apa”.. sigh… my question is what is TNB reason for this simultaneously price hike?? hmmm… NONE!! (that i can accept)

——————–
a18 said,
June 4, 2008 @ 10:40 pm

dear all,

all disappointment noted.

other than work extra hard….what else can we do further?
—>unfortunely, work harder meaning that we need more fuel.. doing 2,3 jobs etc. etc

lets hope the price will not change after Sept coz earlier rumours said…it could reach RM4.00/liter if it is 100% non subsidize and our G is moving to this direction.

—> pray harder my bro…

cutester said,
June 4, 2008 @ 11:22 pm

From now onwards, things won’t get any better. So I have to switch back to riding motorcycle to work as an cheaper alternative. Be prepared for more expensive daily needs coming soon.

I’m very shocked and disappointed with the news. It’s quite scary just like something struck the country like in the movies but this time it’s real. Really pity the people with low incomes who finds it hard to eat 3 meals a day, having children, having house and/or vehicle loans to pay….. It’s a nightmare to everyone.

Have to ride motorcycle to work from July as my boss just bought the monthly parking sticker for month June. Have to save as much as possible. Save a penny for a rainy day……

ckalex said,
June 4, 2008 @ 11:24 pm

Let’s all learn to accept that petrol price will never be the same again. However, if we are able to buy a Toyota Vios for RM50k (without sales tax) instead of RM80k, we will save RM30k. That amount divided by RM625 subsidy per year (RM30k/RM625) will give us an equivalent of 48 years of subsidized petrol.

How bout that G? Willing to abolish sales tax??

no1fans said,
June 4, 2008 @ 11:27 pm

why G nv give people time??? Be fair and kind to us who paying your salary
Announce and proceed straight a way.
What democratic we had now???

All the petrol stations are still keeping the old stock.. but we have to pay for new rate…

all this issue will never stop… God we need another tsunami pls!!!

NeedGoodCar said,
June 4, 2008 @ 11:35 pm

It’s unfair to blame the G for price hike bcoz no G can tahan this kind of price hike. Do u think G run by non BN will not do the same?

It’s a pity that we don see the underlying factors here, the price hike in commodities, including oil are to a great extent due to the act of speculators, just think that someone who does not need oil is buying oil, for better return in their investment purposes, this is creating a lot of havoc as the fundamentals is not a major reason for price hike.

It’s a pity also that the most powerful country in this world is not doin for the economic wellfare of the people but they choose to go to war especially in countries with oil. They keep a lot of oil for themselves for strategic reasons and they also consume oil like no tomorrow. The war has drag down their currency as well as the economy plus the subprime, so there more reasons for speculators to push the oil price higher.

OPEC doesnt care about price hike.

BW said,
June 4, 2008 @ 11:37 pm

GO ON STRIKE!!!!!!!!!

enginerd_2008 said,
June 4, 2008 @ 11:43 pm

This is Paul Tan’s Automotive Forums! right?:) by now, any idea how to solve rakyat problems? if u drive,and then u turn without no signal, of course others will blame u, and for this situation, with ‘no signal’, our G suddenly increase the price. So, this cause a big trouble..
for NGO, push the G by doing a lot of congregation, of course rakyat can do in this BOLEHLAND.. like what rakyat do to Grand Saga..:)

Roy2777 said,
June 4, 2008 @ 11:45 pm

Maybe we can compare the petrol price here

http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm122/eeey3500/gasprice.jpg

rkumar_usj said,
June 4, 2008 @ 11:45 pm

We have been enjoying subsidized fuel for far too long. Learning how to cope with higher fuel prices is difficult. If one has read the PM’s press release, transport companies, cooking gas etc is left intact no excuse for higher food prices. Look at Indonesia they used to be a net exporter of oil but now import oil. Everyone is angry but learning to take the bitter pill now is better than to suffer later. Just hope this A-hole governments doesn’t run the foreign reserves low and bail out on us.

mylpjsmy said,
June 4, 2008 @ 11:49 pm

Thats why, at time like this, ‘work hard’ especially for those working for others, fixed salary is not enough to survive, because the employer will not raise the salary. So, in order to survive, we have to look for alternative solution to earn more income. Have u all notice when there is inflation, there is a lot of multi level marketing company appear in the market, n many ppl tat venture into this alternative business will have a turn around in life, to a better standard of living. Honestly, i’m into this business now, no other choice to survive, we have to work together with everyone to survive, help each other, tat is the purpose of network marketing, not working for ourself but working with ppls. Some of u might think joining this kind of mlm business is to cheat ppl money, i hav to say wat u think is not true. Yes, i also agree not everyone will succeed in this area, thats law of this universe, some will and some won’t. For any feedback on wat i said is most welcome, wat i just said is just giving out a solution, it’s up to u to accept it or not. Lets hope for a better life coming ahead =)

Roy2777 said,
June 4, 2008 @ 11:52 pm

Maybe we can compare the petrol price

Gas Price on Oil Producing Countries

Venezuela RM 0.16/litre
Turkmenistan RM 0.25/litre
Nigeria RM 0.32/litre
Iran RM 0.35/litre
Saudi Arabia RM 0.38/litre
Kuwait RM 0.67/litre
Qatar RM0.68/litre
Bahrain RM 0.87/litre
Egypt RM 1.03/litre
UAE RM 1.19/litre
MALAYSIA RM 2.70/litre

neoracing87 said,
June 4, 2008 @ 11:53 pm

STRIKE!!

mokkf82 said,
June 4, 2008 @ 11:55 pm

Woa! what a forum!~ so many comments turn up.
I wanted to buy a car be this year end, but i think i need to drag that plan back. Hey, oil increase! every damn thing increase. Cement increase, metal increase, do you still think that there are houses selling at less than 250k for a double storey terrace house?
So better aim your target right now.
I know this is an automotive forum, but i got to say that I’m aiming houses instead of vehicles now.
I can’t really see much future on local cars that run on petrol now. Who know what kind of fuel may design out and we are force to use it…..

SY0H said,
June 4, 2008 @ 11:57 pm

Dear All,

As stipulated by some forumers in here that fuel price increase is a worldwide dilemma; yes its true. Even if the opposition took the helm of our country they would be troubled with the same issue as well. Please do not get me wrong, I still hate our PM and his gang at the cabinet. You can find more info of their wrong doings and acquisition of certain stocks and companies from Tun Dr. Mahathir’s Blog at chedet.com. Please read it thru all and you’ll find it enlightening.
Furthermore, other than blaming the government, the blame should also fall upon our GREEDY bosses at the private sector. Please bear in mind, all bosses, regardless of his/her race is actually a businessman of a business entity (of whatever it is). Employer will try their best to pay you (employee) the lowest salary in the market and put you to work day and night. And when asked about salary increase (during appraisal) and bonus take-out at the end of the year, you will always here this out: “Aiyark, business not doing well, not much contract this year”. Or, “Aiyark, itu kerajaan banyak cilakak, cukai itu cukai ini, pasal itu saya tarak dapat bayar banyak” … and lots-lots more stupid examples. TETAPI, what really baffles me; how come there’s a new BMW 7 Series park in front of the office. The Boss’ wife drives a brand new Honda City and the Boss’ children (which is just 18 years old) drives a brand new Subaru Impreza. How about the workers? Most of them ride “Kapchais” (motorcycle) to the office and these workers are the actual power-horse of the company. Just another good “Malaysian Boss” example. I’m sure we ALL have quite the similar experience. That’s why most Malaysians are job-hoppers because only then you can demand a better salary. Now everything is useless when the stupid big “G” suddenly increased the oil price by 78 cents WITHOUT providing us with better alternatives. Even the dear Tun Dr. Mahathir last time only dare to increase by merely 10 to 30 cents. Now I’m all out for war!

joe1209p said,
June 4, 2008 @ 11:59 pm

BN is digging their own grave

no1fans said,
June 5, 2008 @ 12:02 am

Count down has end..

Welcome to expensive world

Cyberkayu said,
June 5, 2008 @ 12:03 am

Predicted a mob or riot very soon~~
althou the price hike is unavoidable but still we cant withstand the petrol hike
our income didn’t have a raise also
the G shud announce the price hike now but take effect in next 2months,for instance for us to get prepared for every domino-affected stuff
now is causing everybody economically-panic

csv said,
June 5, 2008 @ 12:12 am

come on man, why can’t they just abolish the car taxes so the cheaper savings from reduced price will offset any subsidy required.

just do it la….still push this and that.

BN gonna fall.

as of now, wave goodbye to RM 1.92/Liter petrol.

freeze said,
June 5, 2008 @ 12:25 am

I think Badawi already knows he’s going to step down. So before going, create all kinds of havoc.

sanzcesc said,
June 5, 2008 @ 12:26 am

yeah totally inflation.
so whats next?

as far as i know, soon there will be increase in consumer products, food and etc. moreover, pak lah did mention that he dun want any demonstartion tomorrow regards to this matter and he did this to make both sides happy. easy for him to say that, cuz all minister get free petrol*. Yup, Government facing losses cuz of the subsidy, but this is not the best solution at the moment. though, gov subsidies by giving that small sum, its still a burden for low n middle income class.

as for me, if government can put new gasoline rate in over one night, why dun they, increase the salary of government and non-gov servent immediately. tomorrow?

cheers

freeze said,
June 5, 2008 @ 12:27 am

Another way to put this is that THE GOVERNMENT IS PUNISHING US BECAUSE PETRONAS IS GETTING RICHER. Makes no sense.

wuttaheck said,
June 5, 2008 @ 12:28 am

i dunno if it is just me, but i really irritated by the narrow-minded idea of abolishing the import tax. think properly..it only benefits the first-time car owner.if the tax is removed, you think you can save money buy buying a new car? at the end of the day, you actually spend more money. so i guess you are hoping to sell your current car at current used car price, and then buy a new taxless imported car. and who do you think want to buy your used P1 or P2 car if people can buy a new taxless imported car at almost the same price as your sorry a$$ used one? and how on earth this will benefit the hard core poor citizen?

offroader manix said,
June 5, 2008 @ 12:32 am

Actually, I am surprise that nobody ” F ” OPEC yet ?

Every body suffer in the world except them…………???

The Saudi’s probably gain the most in terms of $$$……they said demand is high and they can’t cope…………rising food prices with over stupidity of bio- fuel…………….which nobody think it’s gonna work.

Many years ago Tun ask the Saudi’s to use black oil to control the WORLD and they did just that……………

9166 said,
June 5, 2008 @ 12:33 am

Yahoooooo……. tomorrow I write a letter to all my customers informing them of my latest price list. Now they cannot ask why increase? More profits coming my way….later this month can go book myself a new car. Thank you BN Government.

tiadaid said,
June 5, 2008 @ 12:42 am

Not one response blamed George W. Bush or the oil traders who trade future oil contracts! They’re the ones who should take all the blame! World oil prices are up because they’re too greedy, and in the process of making an insane amount of money they’re willing to make other people suffer, just so they can ride around in a luxury car to their luxury homes! And if you think we’re hit hard, what about Africa? An increase in oil prices will hit them the hardest, what with food being expensive meaning that famine will be rampant. Instead of calling for the M’sian govt to be changed to the opposition (I doubt that will solve the problem), why don’t we unite with the people of the world to force OPEC and Arab countries controlling most of the oil to open their spigot and let the oil supply increase! It may sound hard, but it’s much better than rioting on the street!

SY0H said,
June 5, 2008 @ 12:43 am

I quote from: offroader manix said,

Many years ago Tun ask the Saudi’s to use black oil to control the WORLD and they did just that……………

______________________________________________________

That’s not even half true. Everybody knows its the United States of America’s 3 Trilion Dollars War (Afghanistan and Iraq) supported by the Jews-elite community are the ones responsible for the global oil increase. Read your history well man. The Saudi Arabs are just pawns in their deadly games of world domination.

Just my 2 Ringgit and 78 cents (after reduced subsidy)

hksp said,
June 5, 2008 @ 12:53 am

pak lah can i call u as fuxk Lah?
now we are third world country with developed country fuel price, ridiculous priced cars, low income!!!! what else to come ?
whats going to happed with the unspend subsidy money ? use on the people? hell no, bet those money will flow into their own pocket
since fuel is market price, fuxk import tax, lets buy imported car at market price too !!!!!!!! prius ?

Hybrid said,
June 5, 2008 @ 12:59 am

“Bloody Nation” Party has just made a remarkable history & milestone in Malaysia History! The world most corrupted government ever & the world most worst planning ever ruling government. Guys trust me, this is just the beginning of the big round of corruption coming up. “Bloody Nation” Party are now real desperate for money for some reasons

1) Internal conflict among party member. They need fast cash to allure others party MP to join them for the strengthen the parliment seats. Just another round of getting the public money to invest in their politic

2) RM625 really can support government? Think twice, how much a police man earn? JPJ officer earn? custom officer etc…More corruption you will see….Pak Lah…your anti corruption policy is an absolute failure. Better call it a “Advocate Corruption” Policy better still !

3) Its a dirty stretegy again to support the “Paralyzed Car Industry” Now you will see a sudden pickup in their market. That all already well plan. Who are all the vendors? Who are all the key people behind the scence of “Paralyzed Car Industry” You know, I know & everyone who suffer for the pass 10 ~ 15 years should know the answer. It all are well plan to benificial specific group of people.

4) Why not even mentioned about import tax & car sales tax in order to have a equilibrium point of fuel hike? The answer is simple, because that part of the cakes is already belong to specific group of people & maybe too sensitive to touch, cause it might loose out some strength for the party. Clear to everyone that, corruption is existing here before , now & even in the future.

Dear fellow Malaysian, please beware that more crimes coming in the near future. Malaysia no longer a safe country which belong to you & me & the nation. Its will soon belongs to specific group of people.

offroader manix said,
June 5, 2008 @ 1:03 am

Syoh,

Those issue are side dish……………but nobody knows for sure the real reasons behind it.

But Arabs in diamonds studded mercedes ?………….

dr_carz said,
June 5, 2008 @ 1:04 am

MY KANCIL 660 IS FOR SALE RM 80.000 !

WHO HAS NAZA RIA I WANT TO BUY AROUND 3.000 ?

HAHAHAHA

FACE IT MALAYSIAN !

THE GLOBAL PRICE IS NEAR….

CHANGE GOV IF U WANT TO CAHNGE …

THE PRICE ISNT GOING DOWN EVEN U PUT A MAGICIAN TO BE PM…

king said,
June 5, 2008 @ 1:13 am

Only two words to describe this…

FUC* Lah !

najibest said,
June 5, 2008 @ 1:20 am

well, 1st and foremost, i would like to know what’s the component of the so called RM3.00 petrol price…u can say all u like about it’s RM3.00 but what’s the basis? i left a breakdown for gasoline price in the USA compared to us in Malaysia in one of the previous posts.

as i mentioned previously, in the states right now the gas price is around RM3.30/L. out of this 60% is for crude, 20% for refining the crude, 15% for state and federal taxes and 5% for transportation cost. obviously, in our beloved country, the refining and transportation cost shouldn’t be as high as in the states, i mean we get paid in RM over here and RM is like 3x lower than USD so the refining and transportation cost shouldn’t be too high. 1 bbl of oil is around 160 liters, so using the current USD 130/bbl, the crude price should just be around RM2.02. so now our petrol price is already RM2.70, i wonder if the refining and transportation cost really more than 68 cents for every liter.

also, the 15% for state and federal taxes in the states are used to build roads and highways and almost 80% of the highways there are toll free. even if the charge toll it would only be around 80 cents to around USD 2.00 and considering what they’re earning, it’s nothing. don’t get me started on the food price over there that’s relatively cheaper than what we have here..for example, chicken there cost around USD0.80-1.50/lbs. over here, it’s like what, RM6/kg….i just don’t understand….

so the question that i’m posting right now is, how come our petrol price is already close to the price in the USA WHICH IMPORTS MOST of their oil but we’re still paying so much in taxes, tolls and earn peanuts compared to them? where’s the G going to use the additional billions? send another space tourist maybe? or maybe buy the soyuz capsule?

also why always the sudden increase? i mean come on, starting tomorrow the price for food would rise to unreasonable level and the people would lose the most. couldn’t the G just implement measures to prevent basic needs from increasing prices 1st before increasing the fuel price so that the people would have enough time to prepare for the hike?

i guess maybe it’s time to look into having PR in other countries that at least pay you market price for your job and have reasonable prices for goods…

superookie said,
June 5, 2008 @ 1:20 am

the G wanna save money and send another monkey to be a russian spacecraft passenger.. then hidung kembang say that is another milestone achievement..

Kevin Lee said,
June 5, 2008 @ 1:30 am

u know what, u guys should boycott using highways and just not pay a single cent to any tolls. let those kampung supporters who get paid to vote paklah. then we slowly congest the kampung roads, so that the kampung mat rempits cant rempit, nor the kampung ppl could even take a bus or drive to work. then see what the increasing petrol price has caused us desperate people would do. we all should even park in front of the prime minister’s house and demonstrate. if they ask us to move, we say, no money to pay for petrol. i think it would give him a hard thought about simply adjusting the economy. he never thinks thru and never have a good idea about how the malaysian economy works.

ob8 said,
June 5, 2008 @ 1:35 am

internet and post msia still shitty slow but petrol now 2.70. how to buy beras online? i want to cut expense on fuel. ” ok ok lets find someone to blame ”.

aaron_38my said,
June 5, 2008 @ 1:35 am

YAHOO! At 11.58pm, I was the first customer to pump a new 2.607 per liter Ron92 at Jalan Miri-Pujut Shell Station for pump #11! I would like to have this opportunity to thank Uncle Lah and his supporting groupies and the kiosk manager especially, for being so efficient and effective in revising the price at least 10 mins earlier than its neighbor kiosk, Petronas. I shall claim my prize by the end of this month. Thank you, thank you.

adil2008 said,
June 5, 2008 @ 1:56 am

Hi, all,
the price is just good for us the reason why we need to change, before than i have a comment is dont expect of good quality of the diesel if the price is up,up an up again, dont expect the car price will go down, dont expect those stupids can solve our problem, our problem is not they problem.

1. rice was go up to RM70.00 - RM100.00, before change of petrol price.
2. 1267 buses was throw away, if RM500K each, then RM633 mil was gone.
3. Bandar Mahkota Cheras cases if total fitnar, we already loss RM75 mil.
4. TNB will increase the charges, we already loss RM360, if whole country is RM1.87 billion, assume 26 mil population.
5. Air suam now RM0.50, after that RM80.00.
6. for low income group like kadasan & dusun only get RM400 per month, can those group can live in this situation?
7. We own the government, g owned khazanah, khazanah owned petronas, who is actually own the PETRONAS?
8. now petrol price is up, izit possible the car price will down? dont hope for it.
9. g will remove the public transport susidy, why?
10. the cbu car got duty excise, what a redicoulius, that why the thailand not allowed the Toyota Hilux to enjoy a special tax rate, if the car import from Malasia.
11. the plantation co., already paid the tax, now need to charge the extra tax? oh my god, really oh my god.
12. today 04.06.2008, we must remeber this date.

justice said,
June 5, 2008 @ 2:00 am

One of you mentioned about public transportation, and I totally agree with him. But thats for West M’sia. What about East M’sia? No LRT, MRT, this that and that this. We’re still using buses for Pete’s sake! M’sian G, come on lah…I don’t see any effort on this matter in East M’sia at all. Even the train in Sabah is considered more as a historical property rather than a public transport and it keeps breaking down. You increased my beras, nevermind. You increased my mi kering, also nevermind etc etc but you increased fuel price? Isn’t the situation getting worse, also nevermind. Gaji?? What about our wages, old man? I need to keep my Myvi on the move for client meetings daily. Nevermind, another good point raised here was the poverty issue. Dude, an average person with lower income here earns roughly RM25-RM50 the most per day and most of them have children of 4-8. How do you go about that? You have just turned their lives into hell’s kitchen. I thought the latest budget was a fair one for everybody? “Leave our fuel prices alone already!SOB!SOB!”

ob8 said,
June 5, 2008 @ 2:05 am

reduce non national car prices while ur at it paklah. also remove the fecking bangladeshis off my streets

Porkbutcher said,
June 5, 2008 @ 2:06 am

Woah! Goddamn this policy la… This is the first time I’ve ever experienced massive traffic jam in my town. Vehicles are queuing for petrol stations everywhere and I was sandwiched for half an hour just for a 1.5 km distance at 7pm. I just came back from filling up my empty tank and it was unlucky enough to wait for 2 hours. Many motorists were selfish enough to iddle in yellow boxes and also in the middle of cross junctions. I am really sick with these Malaysians for they made inconvenience to other ppl. So, dun expect the Malaysian road traffic will improve as long as ppl remain naive and inconsiderate.
Why can’t gov propose a dateline of fuel price increase? I hate to q for this shit and be caught in traffic jam like the end of the world. Every main roads were jammed!!! If Pak Lah was wise enough, he should have step down for rakyat sake!

keretakura said,
June 5, 2008 @ 2:18 am

Everything is going up now … including PAKLAH .. he won’t step down (only rain going down … he he).
HIDUP PAKLAH !! 3x … he he
PAKLAH - “Bapa Inflasi”

justice said,
June 5, 2008 @ 2:20 am

BTW Pak Lah, don’t think of Malaysia as your Business Capstone’s (www.capsim.com) game la…This is reality, not some virtual company/country which you can manipulate its economy and simply reverse the impacts. What is done is done, and what you have done so far, have disappointed me greatly. Therefore, you failed your Business Capstone unit. Your new game plan of subsidy is not worth the fuel price hike. Fuel price increment may be unavoidable but must the increment be so drastic and aren’t there any other places you can find to conserve or boost our nation’s economy? Like maybe starting off with your gaji, hmm…? Why didn’t the Japs win the WW2 and take over M’sia. We could have been wealthier than of now.

adil2008 said,
June 5, 2008 @ 2:31 am

let see what will happend, is too much already from today, izit because our people never pick u? encik. please see what was happening yesterday night, see by your own bler eye, dont say people will understand the situation, people all now was not understand, u push people to death, for sure the whole g will gone after 4 or 5 years. because this is the power of the people to revenge, can the g show us the “Financial Statement” to audit.

no1fans said,
June 5, 2008 @ 2:32 am

How to sleep..when everything up..
Thinking what will happen tomorrow..

Learn how to swallow a bitter pil.. talk easy coz u got money!!!

I wonder how much more G need to fund and spend to:
1. taking care the 50KM radius on the border
2. isuing the money order for the whole malaysia (for sure got loop hole that someone will be utilizing this)

Kelakar!!!

Listening to the news, the fuel price will be review every month, so it can go down or go up further… more heart attack for rakyat

G need to start thinking that all departments should be trait as profit center to fund the department it self.

Right now the situation is different, each of it was given allocation to spend but what is the result????

The bridge crack, asked for more money. Parliment building leaking ask for more money. We spending so much money to attract tourist ,what is the result.. people is not blind, Genting is still the no1 tourist destination spot in Malaysia that open 365 days a year and have huge number of people going there with what ever reason.

Okay can’t condem so much.. Look at the positive way, the good site, the brighter site…

ehm… can’t think of anything

paxter said,
June 5, 2008 @ 2:43 am

just out of curiosity how sure are you Pakatan Rakyat would have brought down petrol prices… it would be great pr for them but total horror for the coffers… And petronas selling oil out of the country is a good thing but at least force them to use that profit to offset some of the price hikes…

anyway my taught on it is instead of giving that 625 bucks why not use that 625 to abolish tols? and road tax for cars under 2.0. OR give a cash stimulus to those who cant afford cars… I cant imagine how people who earn 500 ringgit a month is going to survive… food prices will for sure go up, electricity, etc. MAN this country is becoming another Indonesia… and that is fk up…

no1fans said,
June 5, 2008 @ 2:44 am

To our Prime Minister and the deput**y,

Later in the morning please have a live press conference.

We want you to do one thing. Forget about the fuel!!! we want you to

“Sing Negaraku”

and say to all us here that “Rakyat hidup bersatu dan maju” for 3 times.

Yeah just say that for 3 times.

If you really love Malaysia you will cry!!!

That is people feeling NOW

paxter said,
June 5, 2008 @ 2:46 am

adil2008

the no 11 applies to palm oil plantations…. not general food…. i am “for” palm oil plantations to be tax extra they are making huge profits as of late.

no1fans said,
June 5, 2008 @ 2:51 am

paxter said,
June 5, 2008 @ 2:43 am

“MAN this country is becoming another Indonesia… and that is fk up…”

They are not fk up, they had their own problem.. just leave it
One thing I like what they believe, 1 Country, 1 nation, 1 language and no previllege.

I agree with u… Toll that already collecting for the past 30 years should be abolished, no used paying toll that we still stuck with the jam inside.

mdjqs said,
June 5, 2008 @ 4:59 am

to those who is calling to support anwar is a moron! ok back to fuel subsidy, this is so sudden! telling people im not going to get marry then the next day different story, still ok! but this…im speechless!

Paul Tan said,
June 5, 2008 @ 5:07 am

http://thestar.com.my/columnists/story.asp?file=/2008/4/3/columnists/vkchin/20756771&sec=vkchin

enginerd_2008 said,
June 5, 2008 @ 5:51 am

dr_carz said,

June 5, 2008 @ 1:04 am

MY KANCIL 660 IS FOR SALE RM 80.000 !

WHO HAS NAZA RIA I WANT TO BUY AROUND 3.000 ?

HAHAHAHA

———————————————
really?haha.. i want to sell my Harrier lah…. better than keep it in garage… RM50 can bro..? haha

enginerd_2008 said,
June 5, 2008 @ 6:03 am

Paul Tan said,

June 5, 2008 @ 5:07 am

http://thestar.com.my/columnists/story.asp?file=/2008/4/3/columnists/vkchin/20756771&sec=vkchin

———————————————–
dont know what to say… Tun Mahathir said, in politics, everythings can be… anyway, i will fill up the petrol this morning with the latest price… NGO, please play your role!!! PUSH THE G by today!

cutelittlekelisa said,
June 5, 2008 @ 7:23 am

Correction:
“Payment of the subsidy will be made via postal order to be issued when you renew your car’s road tax annually, and payment processing will begin on the 1st of June 2008.”

its 1 July 2008

everybody drives kelisa! engineered for fun (and low fuel consumption!!)

abtm said,
June 5, 2008 @ 7:44 am

now where did i put the brochures for the Prius and the Civic Hybrid…

BanyakMasukWorkshop said,
June 5, 2008 @ 8:27 am

to those who said its nothing to do with politics.. i totally disagree.. its got everything to do with politics.. our economic situation, the way we do business, the use(abuse) of subsidies.. politicians run our lives. they do whatever they want to do, and when they screw up, they say “live with it”. Public transport is in a shambles and no thanks to poor town planning, people have been given the wrong impression that we have a robust economy, that inflation is under control..etc. etc. and the list goes on.

they have finally come to grips with the reality of the world around us, but there is still much to be done.. money still rules over the environment is another good example.

droll said,
June 5, 2008 @ 8:38 am

can get Prius in m’sia meh (short of parallel import which i’d be worried about with a car like the Prius)??

kevin62 said,
June 5, 2008 @ 8:40 am

It should be FAIR. Something gone up 40% and something must come down at least 30% (if cant reach 40%).
Why our G cant do like Thailand? Why we still need to pay that high SALES TAX?
If TOYOTA CAMRY is selling RM120k i dont mind paying RM5 per litre for petrol.

neo2 said,
June 5, 2008 @ 8:50 am

It would be naive to think that we could enjoy fuel subsidies forever. World fuel price has breached USD136 per barrel and it just keep on going without any sign of declining. Apart from speculation reason, the fundamental problem is world fuel reserve is diminishing, this is a fact that each and everyone of us must accept and live with it. We are sacrifying our food (corn and malt) to develop bio-fuel or diesel but how efficient it would be still in doubt as poor and even some developing countries are facing riot as a result of inflation (due to food as basic need) and millions are on the verge of dying by hunger due to all these fuel crisis. Ask yourself the same question, when we are already get used to drive alone in our comfortable car, imagine we are wasting 75% of its efficiency (assuming 4 passengers in a private car on the road on average of full accomodation). Was that lack of public transport to blame or ourselves to blame? Inefficient public transport is an issue but it does not hinder us from utilising it to conserve scarced energy. I believe by the time we are paying floating fuel price according to world market, we really and must seriously consider car pool or public transport. And I quote Morpheus from The Matrix Trilogy,” Welcome to the REAL WORLD!”

no1fans said,
June 5, 2008 @ 9:09 am

talk easy lar… i have been staying in Damansara for the past 5 years and don’t even have public transport pass by there.

If not driving how I am going to come out to work.

Public safety is another issue, while walking to the bus or lrt station we should always be alert.

when fuel and electricity increase… what next?
Any kind of service that we had here will increase to.. why? coz we need something to move. And the things are consuming fuel to move.

The real world are:
- you will not going to car pool with stranger
- you will never get 4 people on the same location working at the same place
- human is selfish

king said,
June 5, 2008 @ 9:12 am

enginerd_2008 said,
June 5, 2008 @ 5:51 am

dr_carz said,

June 5, 2008 @ 1:04 am

MY KANCIL 660 IS FOR SALE RM 80.000 !

WHO HAS NAZA RIA I WANT TO BUY AROUND 3.000 ?

HAHAHAHA

———————————————
really?haha.. i want to sell my Harrier lah…. better than keep it in garage… RM50 can bro..? haha

___

maybe u can install NGV tank..hahaha

biggbro9 said,
June 5, 2008 @ 9:14 am

if the g really wants us to chng our already pathetic lifestyle, then it shud probably chng its grandish way 2, lets start wit scrapping the F1 race..dis thing easily cost 2-300 mil a yr, n the monsoon cup, langkawi tour,etc..All this are rich & fms lifstyl

king said,
June 5, 2008 @ 9:20 am

Paul Tan said,
June 5, 2008 @ 5:07 am

http://thestar.com.my/columnists/story.asp?file=/2008/4/3/columnists/vkchin/20756771&sec=vkchin

____

what a lying 2 headed snake!!! screw all those who vote the BN clowns. it is all bcos of you. Now your dreams have come true…all Barang Naik

For those who say ” what makes you think the opposition will not increase the fuel prices”, i say to them: at least got hope and they DO listen to the rakyat.

Our natural resource belongs to us rakyat and not one bloody person fuc* lah!

venomie said,
June 5, 2008 @ 9:23 am

in order to save petrol, sale of used perodua kancil will increased and then also in order to save petrol we can fill up a perodua kancil with 6-7 people and then in order to save petrol policemen, hospital and JPA3 to work 24-7 when there’s fatal accident in this ‘comel’ car.

statistic for accident will increase, hospital bills will increase, insurance premium will increase - thanks G for this figure!!

lchan said,
June 5, 2008 @ 9:28 am

Typical malaysian, selfish and uneducated….you blame the government for what?….then who telan the fuel price of USD120+ a barrel?..your father ar? Change government would do shit or asking Pak Lah to go to hell. The fact remains is, the government today needs to plan and implement policies today to ensure nothing of such impact will arise in the future, regardless of food, fuel, real estate, etc. We have to start living in a more open market situation, curb corruption and etc (sensitive issue). If you open up your mind, everything is link to everything. Regardless, there is no denial.

4G63T DSM said,
June 5, 2008 @ 9:41 am

While much of this is unavoidable regardless of who is in power, the drastic raise in prices is bad judgement. We can expect an almost immediete loss of at least 30-40% PDI, now with TNB also announcing rates (wtf…was that even neccesary?)

It leaves only to be seen where the “savings” by not giving the subsidies goes to.

Last 40bil savings that came from the last $0.30 hike…where did that do to? Gone to fund BN’s election campaign?? Bailed out MAS??, Where is public funds accountability? Where was the promised 40bill worth of “improvement of the public transport system” (or did MAS qualify as “public transport”).

I dont see the government having any problems giving “subsidies” in terms of APs to someone…..

To those that voted for BN, you really want this sort of government?

I really also think the 2000cc cap is also one sided. If you are really low income, you wont buy a 2000cc car. Heavy handed to help Perdana owners and the like? Almost all 2000cc cars retail for well over 100k. Just how many low income (or even middle income for that matter) can afford a car like that?

mukhri88 said,
June 5, 2008 @ 9:42 am

Kevin Lee you stupid idiot hilbilly hack…… let’s not involve kampung people in your nonsensical rant. Us kampung folks are not like what you think, so don’t assume anything, and don’t generalize. Dumbass.

Anyhoo, back to topic. Something has really gotta give here, new car prices can gradually come down. But I think the small stuff can take a price tumble with immediate effect, such as automotive consumables, lubes and parts etc. Upah kerja will definitely go up though..

master_p said,
June 5, 2008 @ 9:43 am

Hi Good People,

Budjet Planning! (Choice)

Choice 1 :- Planning to work from Seremban.
Seremban = RM 1(Local fare ) + RM4:10 Car park in Seremban town (Maybe too much but it’s the fact) + RM4:70 bus fare + RM 1:60 LRT to KLCC = Pergi balik ( Total cash : RM18:70 ). Additional daily cost = Cigarette 14 : RM5:70 + RM8:00 (Breakfast and Lunch) Total cost : RM13:70.

All together it’s costing : RM32:40.

Choice 2:- Use Car : RM20 oops RM30 pergi balik + RM 15:20 pergi balik +Additonal = RM 13:70. Totalling : RM58:90 a day .

For example if Salary RM 2500

One Day Choice 1:- RM 32:40 * 24days = RM 777.60 + RM 600 Car loan + RM600 House loan-Totalling : RM1977.60 :- Leaving a balance from the salary of RM 522.40

One Day Choice 2 : Totalling :- 2613.00 leaving an additional part time work and payment of RM 113.00

:- Services

Bus : Sucks
KTM : Lambat macam kura-kura.
Star LRT, Monorail, Putra LRT, KTM, busses, taxi’s can we name one place where it is all connected?

Can the government count the cost of living for an individual rather then a turnover. With the way things are going this country is going to be a turnover for failure and infested with criminals who have no choice. Where is the experience of life in Malaysia. There is no bus routes for the busses and taxi’s towards central KL.

Cheaper to live in London if you have calculation like this.

lowprofile said,
June 5, 2008 @ 9:46 am

interval times for public transport should not be more than 10 mins. both trains and buses. bus journeys should not take more than 2 hours. this means there should be more buses to cover more routes instead of just one bus to cover one long stretch. there should geneerally be more buses and trains to cope with the forecasted increased demand for efficient public transport.

import and sales taxes should be reduced. small local car makers like p2, p1 and naza will be very happy as they have the products that the market want. see spike in sales of lower capacity cars e.g.1.6L and below.

if they’re raising diesel prices, GIVE US EURO 4 DIESEL so that manufacturers can bring in fantastic euro 4 turbodiesel cars. btw, europe is going towards euro 5 and we are still stuck in the mud!! even our asean neighbours have better diesel than us.

farghmee said,
June 5, 2008 @ 9:46 am

this morning went to pump station.
guess what?
rm9.50 for fulltank 125cc kapcai..

i don like math. i like add-math

*plz dun compare price of oil between OPEC & non-OPEC.
*plz consider “money ratio” (

mukhri88 said,
June 5, 2008 @ 10:00 am

Totally agree with Ichan on selfish issue. But the free and open market thing.. unless we put up a new govt, I’m not really sure the current one’ll open up to free market just yet. They’ll just line thier pockets first and lat us suffer awhile before they even consider letting up.

But for those who qualify to purchase property, methinks better invest now. Property value will skyrocket due to ‘high’ raw material ‘transportation cost’, this is only an assumption lar..

GTI said,
June 5, 2008 @ 10:08 am

It’s time to use NGV..

mukhri88 said,
June 5, 2008 @ 10:09 am

With this new predicament that we face now, can anyone list down who is the new rich people in the country? Who profits the most, businessmen, politicians? Who is the new orang kaya baru?

almattitude_v1 said,
June 5, 2008 @ 10:13 am

Fuyoh… Last night was massive! Everywhere cars all lining up to fill in petrol! At 11pm also line so long…

biggbro9 said,
June 5, 2008 @ 10:23 am

Malaysia should scrapped the F1 race, Monsoon Cup, Langkawi Tour and all those expensive events..cost a bomb and not beneficial at all.That’s one way to change our lifestyle too..can’t afford the ticket also anyway!!

osh_kosh said,
June 5, 2008 @ 10:29 am

wuttaheck said,
June 5, 2008 @ 12:28 am

i dunno if it is just me, but i really irritated by the narrow-minded idea of abolishing the import tax. think properly..it only benefits the first-time car owner.if the tax is removed, you think you can save money buy buying a new car? at the end of the day, you actually spend more money. so i guess you are hoping to sell your current car at current used car price, and then buy a new taxless imported car. and who do you think want to buy your used P1 or P2 car if people can buy a new taxless imported car at almost the same price as your sorry a$$ used one? and how on earth this will benefit the hard core poor citizen?

–>almost exactly what i’ve been asking those guys in the previous thread!! what’s the point really, most of us still ’stuck’ with the ‘expensive’ car installment & what will happen if G implement that move in this very near future? nothing benificial (short-term) for us actually!! we can’t sell our car to buy new ‘cheap’ car coz the 2nd hand value will drop drasticly… we still stuck with the previous installment!! maybe the 1st time buyer or anyone who’s completed their car installment will benefit something… so how’s this gonna help with the RM0.80 fuel price increase?? as always but, don’t get me wrong, i do believe this ‘move’ will benefit all of us in long-term.. that’s all

i agree with BanyakMasukWorkshop, it got everything to do with politics!! deep down, i think most of us already accept that the fuel price will go up soon. but, what annoyed most ppl is the way they do it, so sudden without anykind of timeframe for ‘rakyat’ to be prepare & with so much price increase!! why can’t slowly increase to at least make sure other goods price ‘in-control’.. don’t bullsh*t that other price will not go up!! wtf!! i can assure u that at least chicken price will go up! the price already increase w/o the fuel hike & now with extra RM1 diesel price go up anyone want to bet that the price can still maintain? & cooking oil price will still the same? f*uck off!! palm oil price increase everytime fuel increase lah bodoh!! lame excuse by a sleepy head!!! P*CK LAH!!

i don’t know if opposition can do any better if they govern this country but with this kind of actions taken by current G, i can’t find any reason to ‘love’ them!! btw, if not mistaken there’s a club name “Kami Sayang Pak Lah” & pls don’t ask me what kind of club is that!! anyone from that club here? i just want to ask, do u still love him? pls answer honestly for GOD sake!!

p/s: Thanks Paul for those ‘reminder’ link above..

waimak said,
June 5, 2008 @ 10:34 am

I think the government doesnt have much money left, so it’s “impose-everything-to-the-rakyat” time now. It’s a sad situation especially to those who dont as earn much as policy makers.

Most people would be able to accept an increase in petrol price provided that it’s not a drastic increase.

Yes, the economiy of a country is determined by politics - and there was this clown on tv last night saying that prices of other goods will not be affected by the increase. What does that tell us? Again, the economy of a country is determined by politics!

vincentwee said,
June 5, 2008 @ 10:36 am

if u refer to lim kit siang blog, there are several places has been define as protest today!

surely that bodohwi will use ISA reason to lockup ppl

where is agung when we need him!

king said,
June 5, 2008 @ 10:37 am

osh_kosh said,
June 5, 2008 @ 10:29 am

wuttaheck said,
June 5, 2008 @ 12:28 am

i dunno if it is just me, but i really irritated by the narrow-minded idea of abolishing the import tax. think properly..it only benefits the first-time car owner.if the tax is removed, you think you can save money buy buying a new car? at the end of the day, you actually spend more money. so i guess you are hoping to sell your current car at current used car price, and then buy a new taxless imported car. and who do you think want to buy your used P1 or P2 car if people can buy a new taxless imported car at almost the same price as your sorry a$$ used one? and how on earth this will benefit the hard core poor citizen?

_____

actually there is a solution for this…give every citizen the benefit to purchase 1 unit of car that is tax free…say for cars below 100k or below 1800cc. Just like buying a house.. 50% stamp duty rebate that can be used once for purchase of property below 250k.

think hard…if you are sincere to help the rakyat. surely there is so much that can be done.

Allan said,
June 5, 2008 @ 10:40 am

The fuel price hike will have a spiralling effect of everyday products, whilst the salary/income standard is not improving at the same rate. I think that is the major cause of angst for most of us. The gov should introduce minimum wages immediately, and do alot more to improve the cost of living. Road tolls should be abolised, and unless the gov can produce a MUCH better public transportation system, car prices should be lowered considerably as well.

Kevin Lee said,
June 5, 2008 @ 10:43 am

please mukrhi88, namecalling is not the best approach a mentally mature person would call. nor i am a hillbilly, please get your facts right.

yes, it is not the kampung people’s fault. my say is that, we have the right not to use the north south highway and we could use trunk roads, which will lower down the governments profit. the kampung people will feel the pain, when they see a sudden influx of traffic. this would let the bn kampung people to regret on their action. don’t think i do want to directly attack them. i am from a small town too. cheers.

tony2304 said,
June 5, 2008 @ 10:45 am

perhaps our government try to introduce a greener country to the nation.
RM 625 are not enough for a sales person or those who work as runners

osh_kosh said,
June 5, 2008 @ 11:07 am

for those who feel the RM625 is enuff;

ok, let give a simple & realistic calculation… say u fill up full tank of your car (50 liters) to commute to work & it can take u a week before next stop to the petrol station.. that mean in a month u’ll be using 200 liters of fuel..

ok i just give u 150 liters;

a)Previous price
150 liters x RM 1.92 = RM 288 per month
so a year = RM 3456

b)Current Price
150 liters x RM 2.70 = RM 405 per month
so a year = RM 4860

the different (b-a) is RM 1404 a year, & G give us RM625? not even half of that! come on, at least pay half lah… & via postal order? hahahaha… so easy meh? my wife RM1k plus income tax money still ’stuck’ with them & she did call for a refund a couple of time… “wait aa, still in process lah, for how long? dunno yet”.. bla bla bla… sad to say, i don’t think our G is efficient enuff..

another simple comparison, now what used to be RM20 worth of fuel will cost me around RM28 for the same amount of liters.. that’s RM8 more, there goes my lunch money at mamak stall.. haiyah

1 question, if i need to renew my car road tax next month, how? how u pay? RM52? or not count? must wait another year to get ?

armandd said,
June 5, 2008 @ 11:28 am

all of u forgot one thing, the higher the petrol price, the less cars on the road! hehe… i don’t really bother if they increase petrol price, but why increase the diesel price?? the increase is even more than petrol, WTF? increase in diesel price = increase in prices of goods.

abcdefg said,
June 5, 2008 @ 11:50 am

What the hell…
telling people to change lifestyle la….tngok diri sendiri dlu….
jet peribadi la, konsert mewah la,etc….and now, that khairy is in expensive fashion bussiness (Emperors New Clothes).

4G63T DSM said,
June 5, 2008 @ 12:02 pm

osh_kosh said,
June 5, 2008 @ 10:29 am
–>almost exactly what i’ve been asking those guys in the previous thread!! what’s the point really, most of us still ’stuck’ with the ‘expensive’ car installment & what will happen if G implement that move in this very near future? nothing benificial (short-term) for us actually!!

———

So what exactly do you want? Expensive cars due to tax also bitch, then if gov’t remove taxes, also bitch that your 2nd hand car values will drop?

I know it stings to have depreciating do down faster than your payment. But that is the problem! Cars are artificially priced in the first place. Reducing them to market price definately will insure some pros and cons. Like you said. Do you want short term benefit or long term benefit?

It has to start somewhere..

Its not like you’d be driving your current car forever… you’d eventually have to buy a new car.

Be realistic.

If you really have a long loan payment left, you might have to ask yourself if you overextended yourself getting that nice car. 9 year loans are financial suicide. For that reason I dont buy new cars. I buy 2nd hand cars just to avoid rediculous loans…and its not like i’m immune to it as well. My 2nd hand car values will also drop.

_xXx_ said,
June 5, 2008 @ 12:07 pm

U should appreciate what you are getting now (RM2.70/L). After 2 months, at the pump price of RM4.50/L, most of you will faint. Now you see how imcompetant some people are.

osh_kosh said,
June 5, 2008 @ 12:08 pm

“Bayaran tunai ini akan diberi apabila pemilik kenderaan dan motosikal membayar atau memperbaharui lesen kenderaan bermotor (cukai jalan). Bayaran ini meliputi kenderaan dengan cukai jalan yang berkuat kuasa mulai 1 April 2008 hingga 31 Mac 2009. Bayaran tunai ini akan diberikan secara Kiriman Wang (Money Order) di pejabat Pos Malaysia, di seluruh negara, mulai 1 Julai 2008. ”

—> can anyone explain this? what’s the meaning of “cukai jalan yang berkuat kuasa mulai 1 April 2008 hingga 31 Mac 2009″?? if i just renew my road tax in Mac 2008 (which is not it the time frame given) then i can’t have RM625? or if look the other way around, i will renew back my current road tax in Mac 2009 (which is in the time frame given) so i can claim?

but, if my current road tax will expire in July 2008 (in the time frame) so i can claim? not logical coz it will be just a month with the new fuel price. Then again, i will be renewing back the road tax in July 2008 (which is not on the time frame) so should be i can’t claim back the money? must be like this! confused already…

if my understanding is right, then all of us with the road tax that had been renew from April 2008 onward CAN NOT have the RM625 fuel subsidy money right? at least for this 1st year..

Nigel said,
June 5, 2008 @ 12:15 pm

I was one of those kiasu fellas lining up at the petrol station last night. Caught some cool pictures of the frenzy and placed them on my blog. I guess I’ll have to leave the car at home and take the bus more often now.

osh_kosh said,
June 5, 2008 @ 12:25 pm

4G63T DSM said,
June 5, 2008 @ 12:02 pm

So what exactly do you want? Expensive cars due to tax also bitch, then if gov’t remove taxes, also bitch that your 2nd hand car values will drop?

I know it stings to have depreciating do down faster than your payment. But that is the problem! Cars are artificially priced in the first place. Reducing them to market price definately will insure some pros and cons. Like you said. Do you want short term benefit or long term benefit?

It has to start somewhere..

Its not like you’d be driving your current car forever… you’d eventually have to buy a new car.

Be realistic.

If you really have a long loan payment left, you might have to ask yourself if you overextended yourself getting that nice car. 9 year loans are financial suicide. For that reason I dont buy new cars. I buy 2nd hand cars just to avoid rediculous loans…and its not like i’m immune to it as well. My 2nd hand car values will also drop.

—————–

hello brother… read carefully lah! i’m not the one who’s bitching around with stupid plan!! i’m annoyed with all this guys who’s asking something that not really related to the fuel price hike here in the 1st place!! tell me how it can help u with the current 40% fuel increase?

let me put it as simple as possible… say it last night that G also said all imported car taxes & others related taxes being abolished.. and with a miracle, today all new imported car go crashing down… u got city/vios at RM50k maybe, so how? today ur current car installment will be lesser? or maybe next month? next 2 monts etc.?? nothing happen? u still have to pay extra 80sen of fuel & ur car installment.. so how on earth it’s going to help? maybe you should understand something before you too bitching around…

shah74 said,
June 5, 2008 @ 12:29 pm

dear friend as far as i know petronas is an entity with a responsibility to run the bussiness according as what other business done and it is clearly known that malaysian oil is far more better in term of quality…which is in practise by any other oil company in the world this type of product will be process and using it as jet fuel and not to process and used it for our cars. By selling as a jet fuel Petronas will get better in term of profits and that profits will definately be channel for other purposes especially in doing other exploration and to support the government / the people (subsidy)

So definately it is not a wise decision to take the product and directly gave to our people. The responsibilty is not only for today situation but also for our children in the future. It is wrong business ethic.

If the govt keep highly subsidies the product… then well…. we got it at the cheaper prices and bear in mind our own explored crude oil will not last forever!…..what happen if we are running of it……Whose to be blame…..especially when we become nett importer as what happen now in Indonesia… they are now become nett importer….. ? out of OPEC list.

Other than this actually when govt highly subsidies the product….the different that govt have to pay will definately be given directly to other oil company….such as shell, mobile, caltex which is definately they are already here in malaysia before petronas been setup. ….We may sell the product at a cheaper price if THEY are not around…..but bear in mind these GIANTS are nett importer….also. unless we chase them out of this country…. then we are free to do whatever we want in dealing with subsidy.

For me it is a good decision to revamp the way how we gave subsidy… by not highly subsidies the petrol and diesel…..anymore but gave it in other way…that the govt got to think about it.

On the issue of transportation actually as far as I concern the govt gave them fleet card by which is they can buy diesel at the price of RM 1.43 per liter same as what has been given to the fishery industry.

Thank You

abtm said,
June 5, 2008 @ 12:35 pm

not trying to sound political here, but you shouldn’t complain, especially for those who voted for the present govt (u deserve what u ask for)…that said we’ll never know what another govt will do too, fuel prices are ever increasing and no one can stop it

Goddess said,
June 5, 2008 @ 12:38 pm

PLS DIE!!!!!!

cureorcurse said,
June 5, 2008 @ 12:41 pm

Too DARN HIGH increases;

My personal point of view..this increases is somewhat not realistic.
G, should consider.. food prices will increase as well.
Does there consider all this factor?

Villan said,
June 5, 2008 @ 12:46 pm

I understand and accept the G’s decision to raise petrol prices.After all, world prices are increasing and if they continue to subsidise us heavily, it would equate to billions in lost revenue for the country.Citizens use more petrol with the higher subsidies which means less litres of oil to export plus the fact the G gets more profit from the exported oil.We can’t expect to continue gas guzzling when the price of crude oil is already US$127/barrel.We aren’t the only country that has lowered or removed subsidies on oil.China and India are doing it as well.
One thing I can’t understand though is if the G is interested in budgeting and making profits,why did we waste money on stupid things like the corridors and the angkasawan mission?Open tenders for government projects would also ensure lower costs as competition will cause lower prices for hire.
If the government are interested in lowering the usage of petrol, they should encourage green cars.I would propose removing/lowering the excise duty on hybrid cars and perhaps even give out rebates on them.Note that when I say hybrid cars I don’t mean proton made hyrbids.I mean ALL hybrids.the discrimination against CBU cars in order to protect the locally made cars are ridiculous.The G even found a loophole to get around the AFTA by increasing excise duty.If the national carmakers want to survive they should compete on quality not on price discrmination helped by the G.

tengkurex said,
June 5, 2008 @ 12:52 pm

The prime minister office official website had been hack
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y49/pinangjawa/pmo.jpg

http://www.pmo.gov.my/website/webdbase.nsf/w_4?openForm&url=http://www.geocities.com/nmapx/manifesto.txt

shah74 said,
June 5, 2008 @ 1:08 pm

I am totally agreed with villan and now Pak LAh got to find the way on how to fixed the problem which is he inherited from the previous govt…. We should no longer protect Proton unnecessarily… all the toll rate should be lessen or may the govt should consider take over it and imposed cheaper toll which is enough for doing maintainence and not to gain profitt.

But one thig for sure now we are heading towards vision 2020…. something got to be done as to ensure malaysian people managed to survived in A REAL WOLD …. as to compete with other country and people from other side of the world.

A study shown if I got children now by the age of 4 years old and have an intention to send him to do study at the best university in the world such as Yale or Oxford then by that time I should have at least 1 million in my pocket…for him to pursue that ambition. And believe Govt couldn’t help me by that time…. not to mention last time during year 1980/90 cost of study at a public university just around 16 k and now it cost more than 30k and definatey the cost will keep increasing….

How would Malaysian people can survive….. holding with subsidy…? Well we can survive but we are not living in the real world….

Redskins said,
June 5, 2008 @ 1:12 pm

Aiyo, how come they (the big G) keep telling us that “our petrol price” is still the lowest in the region , knowing the fact that we are also the “lowest Earning” (read: gaji/pay/salary) country in the region.

Should the G wants us to “live in the real world (read: throw away the subsidy)”, they should also practice the “read world car-tax practice”… eg reduce (or abolish) road tax, sales tax etc etc etc…

…wonder whats next?

whodz said,
June 5, 2008 @ 1:14 pm

Agreed @Villian,

But Papa G is stubborn. They want to ensure that someone/something/some projects will still be protected. Inflation is rising up. People want to change their life, but our environment in Malaysia didn’t allowed it. Lack public transportation, weak infrastructure, unconvincing economy, too many propagandas, disturbing politics, etc.. I’m now feel worried.

p/s: Noticed that Mamak Stall is quite empty this morning.

shah74 said,
June 5, 2008 @ 1:21 pm

by no longer protecting proton then the tax would be lessen meaning cheaper car….. I can’t wait for that…. lets proton find way on how to survived…subsidy should be concentrated more on health, education, food and shelter… 4 basic things and how to help the poor people….

tikus said,
June 5, 2008 @ 1:22 pm

WE WANT CAR TAX CUT!!!!

osh_kosh said,
June 5, 2008 @ 1:28 pm

it’s RM2.704/liter not RM2.70 as announced..

fastd said,
June 5, 2008 @ 1:29 pm

Paul, any test drive report from any bicycle manufacturer?

shah74 said,
June 5, 2008 @ 1:33 pm

that is why i’m saying we are not living in the real world. Our income is still low since too many thing that the govt keep subsidies as to ensure the price are low…….whatever item that the govt control the prices then the different have to bear ….untill when…..We are really in dilemma either we lets the market decide and things will become fluctuated or we should keep control the prices of almost everything…. and using tax payer money to pay the different….I thing we won’t survive any longer… since world shown that the price of commodity now become very very high…..

tommyboy said,
June 5, 2008 @ 1:35 pm

Dear All Malaysians,
The fuel increase is inevitable with the global price now USD135 per barrel. Actually there is no short supply or demand more than supply of fuel worldwide. It is the fund managers and speculators creating this situation to make big money. Oil is being discovered all over the world and this is not reported. 1st - to tackle this problem, the world’s population have to use less petrol i.e. travel by public transportation, car pool or if possible stay home after work and spend time with family or friends indoors.
For Malaysia, if no subsidy Govt should relax on car prices. Like other countries, the fuel is market price but car price is cheap. This compensates for the higher fuel prices. But knowing this Govt, it will not happen. We are paying both high fuel and high car prices (due to excessive taxes) and all us poor rakyat is paying car prices that is higher in developed countries!

azrai said,
June 5, 2008 @ 1:43 pm

The olds once said. Siakap senohong gelama ikan duri, bercakap bohong lama2 mencuri. You know it right. But where’s the incentive?

osh_kosh said,
June 5, 2008 @ 1:47 pm

Paul, this thread being mentioned in paper.. Malay Mail today

4G63T DSM said,
June 5, 2008 @ 1:58 pm

osh_kosh said,
June 5, 2008 @ 12:25 pm

hello brother… read carefully lah! i’m not the one who’s bitching around with stupid plan!! i’m annoyed with all this guys who’s asking something that not really related to the fuel price hike here in the 1st place!! tell me how it can help u with the current 40% fuel increase?

—-

I read your post again. And yes, I stand firm. You cannot seem to decide on what you want.

What do you expect then? Everyone wants tax to be abolished and now you are are afriad it will lower your cars value. Yes you are right, this has nothing to do with fuel price, then why did you bring it up?

I shall quote you;

“i dunno if it is just me, but i really irritated by the narrow-minded idea of abolishing the import tax. think properly..it only benefits the first-time car owner.if the tax is removed, you think you can save money buy buying a new car? at the end of the day, you actually spend more money”

I don’t see how you can call someone “narrow minded” if you can’t look past the next few years of your own car loan/ownership. What? just because you don’t want YOUR 2nd hand car value to freefall you prefer not having the taxes abolished?? Where is your logic? Loose money after you buy a car? its called depreciation.

Of course we will not benefit from it, at least for now. But you will have to buy a car eventually…..

I hope you understand that the premium you pay on your car taxes, far exceeds any subsidies you will “get” for the life of the car. I rather non taxed car than subsidized petrol.

Bottom line is, with the viewpoint of an Economist, fuel subsidies are not sustainable because the government has bankcrupted the country. If you want to be pissed off, go bark at the government for mismanaging the country’s resources.

If there is an inking of hope that there may be a decrease in import duties or sales tax on new cars. I’ll take what I can get.

Remember you are paying INTEREST for the taxes you already paid to the government when you buy a new car. Remove the taxes, you also save on interest payments on the taxes, side benefit to people is also not to service such a long loan period to save even more interest.

20k saved on taxes = much more than 20k “earned”. 20k + 3.5k (interest cost over 5 years) + opportunity costs in what ever you earn in investment/interest income had you not spent that 23.5k. In the 5 years someone would be paying the bank, I would have “earned” 10k.

Would you prefer to spend 20k on taxes or spend it on your kids education? To me thats pretty clear cut. The key word is Opportunity Cost.

I agree with you, both are lousy prepositions, but i’ll take the lesser of 2 evils.

Sounds good to me.

Face it, fuel will get a lot more expensive than the $2.70 we need to pay now. We are all in the same boat.

osh_kosh said,
June 5, 2008 @ 2:01 pm

c’mon lah brother… you’ve quote someone else comment.. read carefully

pixie_wawan said,
June 5, 2008 @ 2:01 pm

then the ‘Mat Rempit’ also decrease.. YES!

myre5 said,
June 5, 2008 @ 2:08 pm

whooh…truly dynamic scenario

where the country trying to stand tall at the global stages, sadly the people(most) is not ready for it.

more sadly the PM is a liar.

kerajaan bodoh said,
June 5, 2008 @ 2:13 pm

ini lah kerajaan yg paling tak guna sekali dalam history Malaysia..

no1fans said,
June 5, 2008 @ 2:14 pm

Domino efect has started…

Today I went for lunch at my office canten, price has gone up by 20 sen.
And I am sure more story we will hear from you

Sad

kerajaan bodoh said,
June 5, 2008 @ 2:15 pm

2008 is a really bad year …

shah74 said,
June 5, 2008 @ 2:20 pm

In my opinion also the Govt should foresee thing like this will be happen from the last 20 years… which is when we started developing national cars Proton, imposing toll which is run by company through privatisation and setup petronas…..which is all this three and others which might be directly related or indirectly to the people of Malaysian.

They should have plan on how to take over the toll concession from the day they privatised it.
After 20 years Poton should now managed to develop good quality and affordable cars(cheap) for Malaysian as to overcome issues like this.
and Malaysian / Petronas should having pre plan on how to encounter problem when we are running out of our own crued oil….instead of doing exploration at other country….. Dubai for instant already focusing through that by developing their land bank…..and ready for not relying on oil as their main income. Govt should finds way on how to get income as to cover the losses when certain taxes has to be abolised….as to ensure malaysian people are happy…

jolly_idiot said,
June 5, 2008 @ 2:23 pm

I may worry soon or later Malaysia will become like Indonesia. Poor get poorer and rich get richer. End up? Riots!

piaa said,
June 5, 2008 @ 2:26 pm

So sad with action taken by our G.
Always give us big suprise! Now sure they laughing at us.

no1fans said,
June 5, 2008 @ 2:32 pm

Check this out world global fuel Price:
http://money.cnn.com/pf/features/lists/global_gasprices/price.html

1 gallon = 3.78 Liter

Australia and below counties their price even lower than Malaysia.

shah74 said,
June 5, 2008 @ 2:32 pm

Wan Azizah berkata, Malaysia adalah negara pengeksport minyak mentah, justeru harga petrol dalam negara perlu dibandingkan dengan negara-negara pengeksport minyak seperti UAE RM1.19 seliter, Mesir RM1.03 seliter, Kuwait RM0.67 seliter, Saudi Arabia RM0.38 seliter, Nigeria RM0.32 seliter dan Venezuela RM0.16 seliter.

is it an apple to apple comprison…..as far as i concern these country mentioned are amongst the biggest oil producer in the world while malaysian are managed to get around 600k-700k barrel per day… just enough to cover the country needs currently if we wants to gave directly from the well to the user….and in UAE even the govt servant are amongst the expetriats….

osh_kosh said,
June 5, 2008 @ 2:36 pm

u seems to be lost, let me put this straight….

1)a few guys keep asking to abolished all those car taxes coz of fuel hike
2)I’ve asked what’s the reasoning of that? (here & in the previous thread) - no answer so far until u give your points
3)so u see, it’s not about ‘what i want’… it’s a question from me to those guys.. ‘why u want this? at this time? your reason?’…
4)before u ask me to go barking at some G ppl, please check & understand 1st who’s the one that being barking all this time & stop making yourself looks like a joker.. really

keretakura said,
June 5, 2008 @ 2:43 pm

Very dissapointed…. our 5th PM & his cabinets so stupid
I think Tun more brilliant to overcome this issue.

“PAS .. Dulu, Kini & Selamanya” & Say No To xxxxx Hadhari”

s60t said,
June 5, 2008 @ 2:48 pm

i wonder how much precious petrol was wasted waiting in line to buy petrol last night!!!

vincentwee said,
June 5, 2008 @ 2:51 pm

Comparison of the Our Oil price with other OIL PRODUCING countries

UAE RM1.19/litre
Eygpt RM1.03/litre
Bahrain RM0.87/litre
Qatar RM0.68/litre
Kuwait RM0.67/litre
Saudi Arabia RM0.38/litre
Iran RM0.35/litre
Nigeria RM0.32/litre
Turkmenistan RM0.25/litre
Venezuela RM0.16/litre
MALAYSIA RM2.70/litre - lets sing ‘We are the champion’

bolo said,
June 5, 2008 @ 2:56 pm

>>
Comparison of the Our Oil price with other OIL PRODUCING countries

UAE RM1.19/litre
Eygpt RM1.03/litre
Bahrain RM0.87/litre
Qatar RM0.68/litre
Kuwait RM0.67/litre
Saudi Arabia RM0.38/litre
Iran RM0.35/litre
Nigeria RM0.32/litre
Turkmenistan RM0.25/litre
Venezuela RM0.16/litre
MALAYSIA RM2.70/litre - lets sing ‘We are the champion’

>>

Consider the first 2 lines of “we are the champions”

“I have paid my dues, time after time”
“I have done my sentence, but comitted no crime”

Very apt description of malaysian consumers.

tricycle said,
June 5, 2008 @ 3:20 pm

Listen! Fuel or gas or minyak idiots,
Go and do your research now. First you can’t really blame the derivative players, if there is not buyer, these derivatives players will lose money. Its like when Tun M blaming Soros during the Asian 97-98 crisis and suddenly last year, Tun M said it was not Soros fault. Then who fault was it? Please use your brain to think. And do some research and read some published journals or go to the national library.

Second, I don’t mind using octane rating RON 88 for my car. I don’t mind tuning it down as long the car can be driven. NOW after a 30% increased it only cost them RM2.10 per liter in Indonesia. Indonesia is currently a net importer of oil. Sources you can find through CNN or BBC or whatsoever. Just google it.

Third, if only Indonesia is connected to Malaysia, I will go to Indonesia to buy the petrol there it is cheaper. Similar case when the Singaporeans or Thais comes to Malaysia to fill in their tank.

Lastly how can the corrupted country such as Indonesian (as mentioned by our G controlled media) can subsidize the petrol? Please if there is any oil or gas or minyak expert out there, please tell me how. I need to know. The idiots go and do your research and reading before saying something idiots again.

You don’t want me to start on currency depreciation, buying power and many that make you idiots clueless. So for the idiots go and do your research, for the experts please enlighten me.

ec said,
June 5, 2008 @ 3:22 pm

sorry and i just wondering to some comment here:

petrol increase but some ppl asking to lower import tax & excise for luxurious car.

hello, if you wan to drive a luxurioous car, pls get ready to pay for higher petrol. and what it 1.92 and 2.70 if you really can afford an H Accord!

We need to think of how to tackle/solve the “all-things” increase, and not thinking of lower the Accord price to 100K, then buying this type of car and accept for the 2.70 pricing.

Allan said,
June 5, 2008 @ 3:26 pm

wuttaheck said,
June 5, 2008 @ 12:28 am

i dunno if it is just me, but i really irritated by the narrow-minded idea of abolishing the import tax. think properly..it only benefits the first-time car owner.if the tax is removed, you think you can save money buy buying a new car? at the end of the day, you actually spend more money. so i guess you are hoping to sell your current car at current used car price, and then buy a new taxless imported car. and who do you think want to buy your used P1 or P2 car if people can buy a new taxless imported car at almost the same price as your sorry a$$ used one? and how on earth this will benefit the hard core poor citizen?

Dude, you’re even more “narrow minded”. Yes if you abolish the taxes on new cars, all of us will loose heaps of money on our current cars when its time to sell. BUT we have to start somewhere. Do you really want new car prices in Msia to remain as it is forever? Think short term loss but long term gain. Look at it this way, you loose money on your current car now, but you’ll soon gain back some by being able to purchase a new car at much a cheaper price. And your children will thank you for it too, as they will be able to buy decent (read: non-proton) cars at real world prices. And if you’re concerned about the poor not benefitting from all this, then think again…coz they will be able to buy your current car at dirt cheap price!

L15a said,
June 5, 2008 @ 3:41 pm

yeahhhh…. “proud to be malaysian”….ishhh

enzymo said,
June 5, 2008 @ 3:48 pm

Is RM2.704 a litre NOT RM2.700.

Allan said,
June 5, 2008 @ 3:54 pm

osh_kosh said,
June 5, 2008 @ 2:36 pm

u seems to be lost, let me put this straight….

1)a few guys keep asking to abolished all those car taxes coz of fuel hike
2)I’ve asked what’s the reasoning of that? (here & in the previous thread) - no answer so far until u give your points
3)so u see, it’s not about ‘what i want’… it’s a question from me to those guys.. ‘why u want this? at this time? your reason?’…
4)before u ask me to go barking at some G ppl, please check & understand 1st who’s the one that being barking all this time & stop making yourself looks like a joker.. really

Osh Kosh, i think the main reason many here have voiced for lower car prices is because for too long we’ve been paying exhorbitant prices for cars (im sure you know why) and the current fuel hike was the last straw. Gov was quick to remove fuel subsidy when they realise how much money they’re loosing, and then quickly pointed the finger at world oil prices being too expensive to keep on subsidising. Whilst that is true, it would only be fair then that they remove car taxes to reflect real world pricing as well. Why keep on protecting the national car maker even after 20 yrs, it should be a level playing field by now. Of course rising fuel prices are inevitable, but cheaper cars and toll-less roads will ease the burden of many, given the pathetic public transportation system that we have. Not a magic bullet, but it will be a welcome relief none the less.

wuichi said,
June 5, 2008 @ 3:57 pm

petrol price increased *cough blood* & *pengsan* my goodness, cars already so expensive and now petrol? WTF!?!?!? can die ok!

ezralimm said,
June 5, 2008 @ 4:12 pm

To all the people claiming that “malaysia is a oil producer”

consider this:

1) only a third of petronas revenue comes from petroleum.
2) 40% of Petronas’ profits come from overseas ventures (bringing in international currency!) and exploration projects.
3) Petroleum, oil and gas revenues make up about 20% of total government revenue.

They compare malaysia with petroleum producing countries…
Well, we do produce petroleum…but not on a scale anywhere near that venezuela or UAE is producing petrol.

But petroleum ONLY makes up 3.7% of our exports!

denfire said,
June 5, 2008 @ 4:13 pm

I’m actually agree with some people over here, reducing all those rediculous taxes on car can be one of the way helping. Let’s don’t talk about those expensive cars like Honda Accord or Toyota Camry or so on, let just say Honda City, yesterday I been to 1 Utama, where there is a advertisment talking about this fuel efficient car. If the taxes is being reduce, how much would a City IDSI will cost, how much fuel will it save compare to the so called ‘Our Pride’ car? As my own opinion, open market is to encourage competency and improvement. If ‘our pride’ able to compete, why are we scard of imported cars? Maybe for a short term of period, people that currently own a car will suffer as second hand car price will drop dramastically, but look at the long term, where we can get better car with more safe. Don’t mention it is a local product or imported product, the most important is our life. How many times do we need to cry because of someone has die because of accident? Beside the drivers attitude, I believe the quality and safety of cars being drive also one of the contribution to these accident. BUT still, we cannot compare the fuel rate with our country as the salary range is definitely different, if compare to singapore, I can says that our living expenses is much more higher then them although they pay the market rate of petrol. Lastly, WHAT I CAN SAY IS. WELCOME TO THE REAL MALAYSIA OF HIGH TAX, HIGH PETROL RATE, MONEY FROM PEOPLE WHERE DON’T KNOW CONTRIBUTE TO WHERE. Sometimes i really don’t understand, where is our tax going to aa? Everywhere also got tolls, like the government no money to build roads. Really don’t understand.

mdjqs said,
June 5, 2008 @ 4:17 pm

GUYs!! have a look at this two blogs chedet.com and idiot anwar’s blog! just compare these two views regarding fuel subsidy! TDM comeback plz! soorry paul..a bit drama here! i was crying last night….cannot tahan already! hse loan, car loan, health insurance, medical bills though through government, bills and bills and bills! government is bullshitting us again! finish the bakun project laaa….we dont have to import coal!!! bio diesel, where are u??? hybrid ??? public transport!!! vote bn got s*** vote opposition also got s***!

pixie_wawan said,
June 5, 2008 @ 4:41 pm

Mass anti-fuel hike rally on July 12

Thousands of people would be mobilised for a mass protest against the shocking increase in fuel prices at the iconic KLCC Twin Towers on July 12.

But from my opinion no need to protes. What the hell is going on with our country? The new pump price for petrol will be 2.70 ringgit (0.84 dollars) and 2.58 ringgit for diesel. Petrol previously cost 1.92 ringgit, among the cheapest in Asia. Dont you get it? Our oil price is cheaper than the other country! Yes, I know this is massive distraction of our country. But at the same time we cannot to emotional agains the new oil prices.

I know the fuel hike is like ‘up-selling’ and for sure it would affect to ‘rakyat’. The most effect people would probebly ofcourse to ‘golongan berpendapatan rendah’.

Imagin on Wednesday evening triggered is ******* chaos!! Across the country as motorists swamped fuel stations to fill up before the measure took effect at midnight.

But afterall, we all must think rational because this fenomena had happened all over the world..

mukhri88 said,
June 5, 2008 @ 4:52 pm

Folks! Calm down. It appears our heated discussion made it to the media and most probably being monitored by Big G. So if you don’t want being dragged by the hair into ISA lockup.. tone down on the G bashing.

Kev, sorry about the remarks… hehe. No tensions here folks.

Toyota Prius for RM45,000. Proton Persona Hybrid for RM35,000.

YOU’LL NEVER CATCH ME ALIVE! HAHAHAHA

prado700 said,
June 5, 2008 @ 4:53 pm

i spend one hour reading all the comments. just one word for the G : dissapointed and hopefully new G comingup this Sept. agree with “kerajaan bodoh said:

pixie_wawan said,
June 5, 2008 @ 4:55 pm

sorry, hope you all understand in malay language.. then the kerajaan terpaksa menanggung beban dalam bentuk subsidi yang dijangka melebihi RM50 billion pada tahun ni.

ape yang I harapkan cuma you all bersabar la tahun ini. Jangan la buat keadaan menjadi lebih huru hara. Last time dekat Indonesia. Student diorang buat demonstration merata tempat.

LAGI PUN…..

kita masih lucky lagi sebab kerajaan bermurah hati bagi bayar tunai to pemilik kenderaan persendirian including pemilik motosikal bagi decrease the beban. Afterall, this is a positive step and I hope for more options next Ogos when the oil price di ‘apungkan’ with base on price in global sector.

And at the same time I hope the pekedai tidak mengambil kesempatan to increase the price sesuka hati seperti berlaku kerajaan kali terakhir menaikkan harga minyak pada Febuary 2006.

I hope the minister of perdagangan dalam negeri dan hal ekhwal pengguna membuat check. because this is the way to membendung tindakan tidak bertanggungjawab peniaga.

and lastly I hope the pembangkang PKR, DAP, PAS, dll tidak menghasut rakyat berdemonstrasi because of this minysk naik. We all must unite, I meant to explain bukannya di Malaysia. malah di seluruh dunia.

Tidak ada kerajan di mana-mana negara mahu menyeksakan hidup rakyatnya tetapi apabila fenomena hidup rakyatnya tetapi apabila fenomena seperti kenaikkan harga minyak dan makanan global, ia perlu dihadapi dengan penuh tabah dan BIJAKSANA…

kiddy said,
June 5, 2008 @ 4:57 pm

this morning was a huge joke…most of the cars moving damn slow..on a traffic light..a camry, chevrolet accelerate very slow..lol..like tortoise..driving around 30km/h side by side of my car…haiz..sad case..

shah74 said,
June 5, 2008 @ 4:58 pm

I think most people doesn’t really know or care what is our govt facing right now… what they want is everything must be go cheap they dont bother how those dream should be implemented by the govt…if u got a very brillint idea then give it up…..please dont turn our country to become indonesia or even thailand or philiphine…do u really want to go backwards by using RON 88…as indonesia…..leaded…fuel…..well it is definately cheap…..

pixie_wawan said,
June 5, 2008 @ 5:04 pm

OWH IM FORGETTING SOMETHING..

this is my opianion..

I think that the PETRONAS should’t export our oil.. because this is the way.. Use our KHAZANAH to our RAKYAT.. this is only way.

farghmee said,
June 5, 2008 @ 5:05 pm

see?
i’m not going to meddle with politics.
i want fuel efficient car @ reasonable price @ acceptable quality.

big salary, big car.
small salary, small car.
big salary, price increase no problem.
small salary, even yesterday’s price still give problem, now?

shah74 said,
June 5, 2008 @ 5:21 pm

Petronas are bind with contract to be honoured…..they are doing business not welfare…..but definately they are making money, really big amount of money…..and definately govt used back the money for subsidy…..either petroleum subsidy…or social subsidy but only now the world scenario affected all developing and for sure badly affected poor country…it is not wise to used all that resources to cover the different…

just wait for the next few month & hopefully if the subsidy system has been reengineering we will see the benefits as promise.

auctioncenter2u said,
June 5, 2008 @ 5:27 pm

Just for your information, At Japan the fuel price already went up to RM6.50 per liter now. What can you do? Get ready to Fix your bike and stop using the car.

Realeyes said,
June 5, 2008 @ 5:28 pm

Fak Lah, the father of flip flop.. Yesterday no election, today got election. August fuel hike, suddenly june got fuel hike. Those who voted those dumb**s deserved the hike..haha gotcha kampung folk!..Look! who’s laughing all the way to the bank!

pippen said,
June 5, 2008 @ 5:31 pm

1. Government should reduce the import car tax. We are paying too much for the car, not the petrol. Petrol will goes down, and we still can control the usage of our Petrol. When you buy a car 20K more than usual, you are paying like 10 years of Petrol pumping in advnace + interest. Wake up!
2. Just remove those damn tol in the city. (I only support north-south) or
3. Government will make money if setup own tol (so the price can be control) of the City (I think Kesas, LDP, and Damansara tol is the biggest cheat of the rakyat where all roads are existed before), and just sub out the services to the contractors.

pippen said,
June 5, 2008 @ 5:40 pm

Ask Petronas to fund Proton (so it can sell cheaper), not sacrificing the Rakyat of buying expensive other brand of cars by jacking up the tax and force us to buy Proton quality of car with the money i can buy a Honda elsewhere in the world (except Singapore). We are paying more than HK for a car! common! If no petrol subsidize, please take away all those stupid car tax that make the nation suffered. Those are the killers, not the Petrol price. The car become a piece of junk metal after 10 years and your investment turn into nothing, and we have invested so much of money into it, where if cheaper, we can spend it on other staff. Some so-call economist on the radio is one-sided mind, and should keep quiet.

pixie_wawan said,
June 5, 2008 @ 5:44 pm

I think after this our country became a TAX Country..

motorcycle..
cars..
bicycle (maybe)..
tol..
foods and beverages..
toilet..
homes..
electronic..
pets (possibilities)
grocery..
our cloth..

and lots of more are comming.. and all are fucking increase.. from my point of view, this is ALL FAULT BUSH..!!!!! fucking war there, war here.. then want the OIL…!!!! may god bless you bush.. and Hrmm.. At the end of the day,I love very much our country.. But nowdays, I dunno what are suppose to do next..

carsut said,
June 5, 2008 @ 5:52 pm

man…crazy..real crazy, pak lah..u so cruel and no 1 cheter in Malaysia.. we know U and ur croni is very2 rich. but try to think about the poor.. they’ll suffer with u and ur menteris f**kin decision..

kamalmy said,
June 5, 2008 @ 6:09 pm

I think we should change our Gov. from BN (Barang Naik) to PR (Price Reduce). Maybe it would be better.

osh_kosh said,
June 5, 2008 @ 6:12 pm

Allan said,
June 5, 2008 @ 3:54 pm

Osh Kosh, i think the main reason many here have voiced for lower car prices is because for too long we’ve been paying exhorbitant prices for cars (im sure you know why) and the current fuel hike was the last straw. Gov was quick to remove fuel subsidy when they realise how much money they’re loosing, and then quickly pointed the finger at world oil prices being too expensive to keep on subsidising. Whilst that is true, it would only be fair then that they remove car taxes to reflect real world pricing as well. Why keep on protecting the national car maker even after 20 yrs, it should be a level playing field by now. Of course rising fuel prices are inevitable, but cheaper cars and toll-less roads will ease the burden of many, given the pathetic public transportation system that we have. Not a magic bullet, but it will be a welcome relief none the less.

—————————-

finally, thanks bro… now, i know your POV

pippen said,
June 5, 2008 @ 6:14 pm

While HK, SG, Macau with no Petrol subsidized, no natural resources but free port, and the countries are making huge $$ savings AND return to the public. Now thats some place we need to compare, instead of Indonesia (and they becoming better and more investors!) We need to look up, not backward. Vision 2020? where is it? Those so-called plan is a method for someone/party to make benefits for ownself only, its very obvious and clear. It’s either we survive with it, but keeping quiet or just find other way or leave this place (which many people is doing so). Dont blame the others.

neo2 said,
June 5, 2008 @ 6:25 pm

Dear Paul,
I wish this thread could be teminated as soon as possible as it’s getting out of hand here. Lots and lots of emotional remarks are being made here but few are constructive. I am not sure by providing a channel for many disgrunted Malaysian will ease the fuel hike issue but certainly the authority is monitoring the internet now. What is done is done, for next or future, the law makers should seriously consider the following:
1) Car pool system
2) More efficient and highly-connected public transport system
3) Rigorous monitor and transparent disclosure of nation’s expenditure
4) Attract more FDI to improve people’s income
5) Lower personal income tax or higher tax rebate
6) Revision of exessive import taxes/duties on both CBU & CKD cars
7) Severe penalties and strict enforcement on corruption cases
Tighthen general domestic security (bad time tends to have more crimes)
9) Improve public services efficiency and transparency
10) Revamp and liberate education system
11) Retain local talents and reduce reliance on foreign labour forces
12) Re-engineer economy fundaments towards high-value added industry
13) GLC should open for competition, as most are related to basic needs
and so on and so on …
Many could be done to improve our country, instead of bashing and throwing bad words, please contribute towards better tomorrow!

megahyper said,
June 5, 2008 @ 6:28 pm

pixie wawan:
“Petrol previously cost 1.92 ringgit, among the CHEAPEST in Asia. Dont you get it? Our oil price is cheaper than the other country! Yes, I know this is massive distraction of our country.”

Pixie wawan stop cut and paste from the government newspaper, ok? You are getting irritating.

Why dont you highlight this:

We are net exporter of oil…..and our oil prices are among the highest among net exporter countries.

Our car/vehicle price/tax are among the highest in the world. why only apply market price to oil…….govt. should apply market price to car price too!

We also have the densest toll booth in the world. Tell me which part of klang valley you travel is toll free?

So pixie just cut the crap. Your multiple posting starkly expose the usual spin they try to use

legacy88 said,
June 5, 2008 @ 6:31 pm

kiddy said,

June 5, 2008 @ 4:57 pm

this morning was a huge joke…most of the cars moving damn slow..on a traffic light..a camry, chevrolet accelerate very slow..lol..like tortoise..driving around 30km/h side by side of my car…haiz..sad case..

******************************************************************************

You’re damn right, heh heh. Even I saw a brand new Camry winding down its windows to get outside air (or to save fuel). Everybody seems like to go slow.
Damn, now have to ease throttle and think about money being burnt when try to accelerate. Tsk…tsk…

osh_kosh said,
June 5, 2008 @ 6:38 pm

errr… G said recently that they’ll consider reducing toll price, right??? are this still an option? pls don’t say u’ll scrap that plan after doing this…

topgunthang said,
June 5, 2008 @ 6:45 pm

this remind me of the scene in Constantine in the church where Gabriel leans in and tells John Constantine something….

pippen said,
June 5, 2008 @ 6:47 pm

http://www.proton-edar.com.my/index.php?page=campaign&action=view&id=34

http://autos.yahoo.com/newcars/model/overview.html;_ylt=AlzDOloZrDbEqUbDIOUmLkoEc78F;_ylv=3?modelId=5710

Persona MSRP = RM 45K-56K
Corolla MSRP = U$15K-19K

Just do the maths Persona owners.

Roti Naan said,
June 5, 2008 @ 6:49 pm

Some bash the SYSTEM

then

Some bash the GOVT

after that

Some bash the LOCAL LEADERS/BUSINESS MAN

following

Some bash the INTERNATIONAL LEADERS/ORGANIZATION

Last-last

they bash each other in the forum

But, pls don’t bash me, ok?

n8cky said,
June 5, 2008 @ 7:24 pm

suddenly the G bcom a company…talking about the country gross profit..
Who want to get rid of BN? or Um-no~?
I would have join them, wei~ earn money wat.. who dowan?

n8cky said,
June 5, 2008 @ 7:31 pm

#
neo2 said,

June 5, 2008 @ 6:25 pm

Dear Paul,
I wish this thread could be teminated as soon as possible as it’s getting out of hand here. Lots and lots of emotional remarks are being made here but few are constructive. I am not sure by providing a channel for many disgrunted Malaysian will ease the fuel hike issue but certainly the authority is monitoring the internet now. What is done is done, for next or future, the law makers should seriously consider the following:
1) Car pool system
2) More efficient and highly-connected public transport system
3) Rigorous monitor and transparent disclosure of nation’s expenditure
4) Attract more FDI to improve people’s income
5) Lower personal income tax or higher tax rebate
6) Revision of exessive import taxes/duties on both CBU & CKD cars
7) Severe penalties and strict enforcement on corruption cases
Tighthen general domestic security (bad time tends to have more crimes)
9) Improve public services efficiency and transparency
10) Revamp and liberate education system
11) Retain local talents and reduce reliance on foreign labour forces
12) Re-engineer economy fundaments towards high-value added industry
13) GLC should open for competition, as most are related to basic needs
and so on and so on …
Many could be done to improve our country, instead of bashing and throwing bad words, please contribute towards better tomorrow!
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
U’re right, but check this out, these are the idea which were given out by the G..do u think these are fresh to us?
Ask urself, wil u stil buy a car when there’s a tele-portal in short future?
Why they use local ‘expensive’, since they can use cheaper labour from other country, they always think about how much they can make 1st,k?..
Looking into solution, yes they do.. But were all blinded by the benefit b4 doing anything..It’s our fault that we car pool, not them..Try to ask Pak-Lah to car pool with Najib, will they?
Industries earn a hand by supplying daily materials for NS trainee..wat they got from giving scholarship to trainee?no..~
wat do u think?
Give making sense comment la~

kevintth said,
June 5, 2008 @ 8:04 pm

“no1fans said,

Check this out world global fuel Price:
http://money.cnn.com/pf/features/lists/global_gasprices/price.html

1 gallon = 3.78 Liter

Australia and below countries their price even lower than Malaysia.”

Nope, you are wrong. Check the data properly. It was out dated statistic.

However, this is the year 2006 petroleum price comparison although not the latest but our petrol price according to 06/2008 still consider cheap as compare to the price as in year 2006.

http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/1336/oiljy9.jpg
or
http://money.cnn.com/pf/features/lists/global_gasprices/byprice.exclude.html

enginerd_2008 said,
June 5, 2008 @ 8:18 pm

UTUSAN
“KUALA LUMPUR 5 Jun — Penunggang motosikal kini dibenarkan menggunakan Lebuhraya Kuala Lumpur-Putrajaya berkuatkuasa hari ini, kata Menteri Kerja Raya Datuk Ir Mohd Zin Mohamed.”

“Mohd Zin turut berkata tindakan ini secara tidak langsung dapat menggalakkan pengguna menggunakan motosikal ekoran kenaikan harga minyak yang diumumkan oleh kerajaan semalam.”
—————————————————
yeah..good idea… All minister also need to use motorcycle… they must make the FIRST MOVE….
thanks for all NGO that play their roles:)

shenzutong said,
June 5, 2008 @ 8:22 pm

Neo2, your suggestions are age old stories proposed by Oppositions and NGOs to BN but did the BN listen? If the BN G has adopted all these 30 years ago, we will be one of the strongest economy in Asia, surpassing Korea and Singapore. The sad thing is we have politikus who do not know anything about finance and economy, sitting up there in the cabinet and destroying the strong fundamentals built by our hardworking forefathers. How ridiculous when Bank Negara and Nor Mohd Yacob keeps on harping that the inflation rate in Bolehland is under control, only 2-3%. The PM was fed with wrong info and thus he was convinced that the inflation rate in 2008 will be 5-6%.

Frankly, the fuel hike has inflated by about 35%. This will cause an avalanche of price hike in all essential goods, with a rate much higher than the 6% as quited by the G (and don’t forget the under table corruption cost, commission etc by the greedy top brass and their cronies) within a year or two. Any primary school kid can tell you this.

I am not sure whose idea is this, but I am very sure the PM has fallen into a well-crafted trap which is going to force him to retire asap. May be the people who orchestrated this is the TRUE TROJAN HORSE and I am sure everyone knows who is the MASTER MIND behind all this. Anyway, this MASTER MIND is waiting to succeed PM and this SHIT has caused lots of hardship to the people and he is definitely the most evil one lurking around for more wealth and power.

Well, PM has only himself to be blamed, after all, he is the one who has appointed all the “talented ppl” (some behave like samsengs and many are corrupted) in his new G. The best things for him to do now are as follows,
1. Sack that evil TROJAN HORSE at once and get rid of the Master Mind.

2.Revert back to the original subsidy plan and stop price hike for fuel at once.

3. Scrap all Highway tolls.

4. Announce a feasible Master Plan for Public Transport asap. Chanel the
fund to all the Corridors for this purpose and also for solving food crisis.

5. Ask all the BN ppl to sell all the posh cars and use only 1.6cc proton.

6. Stop all subsidies to IPP and scrap NS. Use the money for improving public transport. and many others.

Neo2, this is nothing personal. We have to thank Paul for this thread, at least we have our voices aired.

chap_de_x said,
June 5, 2008 @ 9:13 pm

okay….i have read many comment and forum for the last 24 hours from many resources and this is wut i think…pak lah and his cabinet are stupid enuf to raise the fuel as much as 80 cents in one nite…should be increase it slowly so people can adapt the system…but sincerely we dun have to suffer so much since we is oil producer…so the import profit made by petronas should help us for this oil hike matters…

let see it in positive way…wut G can do to balance this situation…my suggestion is …G should use profit money from the oil import to subsidize food…lower the rice price….chiken…sugar …flour…and wutever basic need…control the food price…so we dun suffer so much…but if the food price is also hiking so pak lah u better resign

ok lets bash others….as i mention above food subsidy is more important then abolish car tax,sale tax, etc…person that so want G to abolish car tax is a selfish because in that way it only benefit certain people…2nd hand car value will be depreciate so great…only middle, and high income will benefit from this…oil that we use is daily basis…its more then the tax u pay if count in long term… whats more important…car that you change 4-5 year once or food u eat everyday? or mayb you change your car everyday hahahahah…be wise…

in my opinion toll rate is another option that should be abolish or reduce…this will be fair to all…not to certain people only….especially to those that only appears when the post is about G or about proton….hahahah so lame….so G if you sincere to help us rakyat…reduce the toll rate…abolish toll…that will less our burden

rm625 for car owner and rm150 for bike owner…better dont give at all if like that…firstly its not fair to all…not everybody use oil is vehicle owner…how about generator…still must use petrol…or grass cutter…or anything that run using petrol…why cannot be subsidize….more important not only fuel price is increase…other goods price will also be increase…so people with no vehicle is suffering more….they also want the subsidy….i sense many old rusty not functioning car will have a new road tax after this.hahahahah..

enuff say….plzz people…asian people is known by its politeness and culture…dun curse others with bad words…give idea with creative mind not emotional…bcoz it bring nothing than hatred to each other…peace

pak lah gud luck…everybody will watch u closely now….

just my 1 ringgit and 92cents history….hahahahah

Bebelon said,
June 5, 2008 @ 9:50 pm

i got a foreign friend asked me before, why the cost of living in malaysia or KL are very low? i answered him because petrol in our country have been subsidied by the government, therefore the living standard still can keep low. but start from today, everything will goes up, the cost of living in city almost can reach the level like Singpore or HongKong, however, our salary maybe just 1/5 of them…maybe not even that much…sigh!!!

pippen said,
June 5, 2008 @ 10:59 pm

chap_de_x, one of the best selling car in is Pexona which cost about RM50+K. please check yahoo or other website how much a Toyota Corolla cost. It’s around U$15K, which is about the same price with the Pezona.
When the automotive operate likes the petrol is global pricing, how much you willing to pay for the pexona, at least RM10-15K (and if Petronas subsidize that). for 10-15K, how many years of Petrol can you pump. Forget to mention, the car needs to pay interest for the years, and what is the value of the car you bought at the end of the year. A lower car price (dont tell me not all people needs or have a car), will help everyone not to spend so many $$ in cars, and can use in other sectors.

scirocco said,
June 5, 2008 @ 11:31 pm

I don’t mind paying market price for petrol. I just want to know where my money goes. or in this case where the subsidy savings go! Far too often we have been paying taxes and they end up being squandered in grandiose projects or worse, fall into the black hole that is someone’s pocket.

Also for those clowns that are saying that TDM is much better, I have 2 things to say to this: 1. This situation did not exist overnight. The fact that our public transport is crap, that we have been paying some of the highest prices for cars, that F1 and god knows what else races are held, these were all began during his time. 2. He did nothing about it, and now have the balls to come out and complain.

SY0H said,
June 6, 2008 @ 12:15 am

I quote from:

scirocco said,
June 5, 2008 @ 11:31 pm

“He (TDM) did nothing about it, and now have the balls to come out and complain.”

Dear All,

Tun Dr Mahathir tried the “prevention” way by trying to outcast Pak Lah a year before general election by commenting some of Pak Lah’s actions to the public, but because Tun Dr. Mahathir is no longer in power and with very limited influence, Pak Lah and his gang manage to outcast him instead by blocking his words to be released to the press (media control), by disallowing any UMNO and BN leaders to meet him and et-cetera. He has explained everything in detail in his blog sometime 2 weeks ago, you can get it at chedet.com At least that man has that responsibility to spit it out to the public, quit from UMNO, carry on the fight openly and risk kena ISA as well. How about you? We can only dare all this “berani” words behind our nicknames in the blogging world…

SY0H said,
June 6, 2008 @ 12:23 am

*I QUOTE FROM TUN DR MAHATHIR’S BLOG*

Thursday, June 5, 2008
Oil Price

(VERSI BAHASA MALAYSIA DI AKHIR ARTIKEL INI)

The price of crude oil has increased by 400 percent in the last three years. It follows that the price of products must increase, sooner or later. In other countries petrol prices had already increased. In the United Kingdom one litre of petrol sells for more than one pound sterling or RM7. In the United States it is about RM5.

That the price in neighbouring countries has gone up is shown by the rush to fill up by Thai and to a lesser extent Singapore vehicles.

The Government has now announced an increase in petrol price by 78 sen to RM2.70 per litre, an increase of more than 40 per cent.

I may be mistaken but there seems to be less vehicles on the road today. But obviously that is not all that will happen. All other consumer goods, services and luxury goods would increase in price.

The cost of living must go up. Put another way there will be inflation and the standard of living will go down.

Obviously our increase in petrol price is far less than in the United Kingdom or the United States. But our per capita income is about one-third of theirs. In purchasing power terms our increase is more than in the UK or the US.

The increase hurts but the pain is greater not just because of the increase percentage-wise is higher than in developed countries but because of the manner the increase is made.

A few days ago the Government decided to ban sale of petrol to foreign cars. It flipped. Now foreign cars can buy again. Flopped.

Knowing that in a few days it was going to raise the price and foreigners would be allowed to buy, why cannot the Government just wait instead of banning and unbanning.

But be that as it may what could the Government have done to lessen the burden on the people that results from the increase in petrol price.

In the first place the Government should not have floated the Ringgit. A floating rate creates uncertainties and we cannot gain anything from the strengthened Ringgit. Certainly the people have not experienced any increase in their purchasing power because of the appreciation in the exchange rate between the US Dollar and the Ringgit.

Actually the Ringgit has increased by about 80 sen (from RM3.80 to RM3.08 to 1 US Dollar) per US Dollar, i.e. by more than 20 per cent. Had the Government retained the fixed rate system and increased the value of the Ringgit, say 10 per cent at a time, the cost of imports, in Ringgit terms can be monitored and reduced by 10 per cent. At 20 per cent appreciation the cost of imports should decrease by 20 per cent. But we know the prices of imported goods or services have not decreased at all. This means we are paying 20 per cent higher for our imports including the raw material and components for our industries.

Since oil prices are fixed in US Dollar, the increase in US Dollar prices of oil should also be mitigated by 20 per cent in Malaysian Ringgit.

But the Government wants to please the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank and decided to float the Ringgit. As a result the strengthening of the Ringgit merely increased our cost of exports without giving our people the benefit of lower cost of imports.

This is not wisdom after the event. I had actually told a Government Minister not to float the Ringgit three years ago. But of course I am not an expert, certainly I know little about the international financial regimes.

I believe the people expect the increase of petrol price. But what they are angry about is the quantum and the suddenness. The Prime Minister was hinting at August but suddenly it came two months earlier, just after the ban on sale of petrol to foreigners.

If the increase had been more gradual, the people would not feel it so much. But of course this means that the Government would have to subsidise, though to a decreasing extent.

Can the Government subsidise? I am the “adviser” to Petronas but I know very little about it beyond what is published in its accounts. What I do know may not be very accurate but should be sufficient for me to draw certain conclusions.

Roughly Malaysia produces 650,000 barrels of crude per day. We consume 400,000 barrels leaving 250,000 barrels to be exported.

Three years ago the selling price of crude was about USD30 per barrel. Today it is USD130 – an increase of USD100. There is hardly any increase in the production cost so that the extra USD100 can be considered as pure profit.

Our 250,000 barrels of export should earn us 250,000 x 100 x 365 x 3 = RM27,375,000,000 (twenty seven billion Ringgit).

But Petronas made a profit of well over RM70 billion, all of which belong to the Government.

By all accounts the Government is flushed with money.

But besides petrol the prices of palm oil, rubber and tin have also increased by about 400 per cent. Plantation companies and banks now earn as much as RM3 billion in profits each. Taxes paid by them must have also increased greatly.

I feel sure that maintaining the subsidy and gradually decreasing it would not hurt the Government finances.

In the medium term ways and means must be found to reduce wasteful consumption and increase income. We may not be able to fix the minimum wage at a high level but certainly we can improve the minimum wage.

Actually our wages are high compared to some of our neighbours. The investors who come here are attracted not by cheap labour but by other factors, among which is the attitude of the Government towards the business community and the investors in particular.

From what I hear business friendliness is wanting in the present Government – so much so that even Malaysians are investing in other countries. There are rumblings about political affiliations influencing decisions. Generally Government politicians are said to be arrogant.

Malaysia is short of manpower. The labour intensive industries are not benefiting Malaysians. Foreign workers are remitting huge sums of money home.

The industrial policy must change so that high tech is promoted in order to give Malaysians higher wages to cope with rising costs of living.

The world is facing economic turmoil due to the depreciation of the US Dollar, the sub-prime loan crisis, rising oil and raw material prices, food shortages and the continued activities of the greedy hedge funds. The possibility of a US recession is real. In a way the US is already in recession. The world economy will be dragged down by it.

Malaysia will be affected by all these problems. I wonder whether the Government is prepared for this.

We cannot avoid all the negative effects but there must be ways to mitigate against them and to lessen the burden that must be borne by all Malaysians. I am sure the Government will not just pass all these problems to the people as the review of oil prices every month seem to suggest.

*****

Harga Minyak

Harga minyak mentah naik sebanyak 400 peratus sejak tiga tahun lepas. Lambat laun harga barangan juga akan alami kenaikan. Di negara-negara lain harga petrol sudahpun naik. Di United Kingdom satu liter petrol dijual pada kadar lebih satu pound sterling atau lebih kurang RM7. Di Amerika Syarikat harganya lebih kurang RM5.

Petunjuk bahawa harga minyak di negara-negara jiran mengalami kenaikan ialah bagaimana kenderaan Thai dan juga Singapura berpusu-pusu mengisi minyak di Malaysia.

Kerajaan umumkan kenaikan petrol sebanyak 78 sen ke RM2.70, kenaikan melebihi 40 peratus.

Saya mungkin tersilap, tetapi ternampak kekurangan jumlah kenderaan di jalanraya hari ini. Tetapi kesannya bukanlah terhad kepada itu sahaja. Barangan pengguna, perkhidmatan dan barangan mewah akan mengalami peningkatan harga.

Kos sara hidup sudah tentu meningkat. Dilihat daripada sudut lain akan tercetus inflasi dan taraf kehidupan akan menurun.

Memanglah kenaikan harga petrol di sini jauh lebih rendah daripada di United Kingdom, mahupun Amerika Syarikat. Tetapi pendapatan per kapita kita adalah lebih kurang satu pertiga mereka. Berasas kepada kuasa membeli kita kenaikan harga adalah lebih tinggi dari UK atau Amerika Syarikat.

Kenaikan ini menyakitkan, tetapi sakitnya lebih dirasai bukan kerana kenaikan dari segi peratusan adalah lebih tinggi daripada negara-negara maju, tetapi kerana cara kenaikan tersebut dibuat.

Beberapa hari lepas Kerajaan putuskan untuk haramkan penjualan minyak kepada kenderaan milik asing. Tunggang. Sekarang kenderaan asing dibenar membeli semula. Terbalik!

Mengetahui yang ianya akan menaikkan harga minyak dalam beberapa hari dan orang asing akan dibenar membeli, kenapa Kerajaan tidak menunggu sahaja daripada keluaran arahan larangan dan kemudian benarkan semula.

Namun begitu apakah yang Kerajaan boleh lakukan untuk meringankan beban kepada rakyat hasil daripada kenaikan harga petrol.

Pertamanya, Kerajaan tidak patut mengapungkan Ringgit. Kadar apungan menyebabkan ketidak-tentuan nilai Ringgit dan kita tidak akan meraih apa-apa keuntungan daripada kekuatan Ringgit. Sudah tentu rakyat tidak menikmati peningkatan kuasa membeli walaupun terdapat peningkatan nilai Ringgit dari segi tukaran dengan Dollar Amerika.

Sebenarnya Ringgit mengalami peningkatan lebih kurang 80 sen (daripada RM3.80 ke RM3.08 pada 1 US Dollar) satu US Dollar, melebihi 20 peratus. Jika Kerajaan teruskan sistem tambatan kadar dan menaikkan nilai Ringgit pada kadar 10 peratus pada satu masa, kos import, dalam Ringgit boleh dipantau dan dikurangkan sebanyak 10 peratus. Pada kadar kenaikan 20 peratus, kos import patutnya turun 20 peratus. Tetapi kita tahu harga barangan import dan perkhidmatan tidak kurang. Ini bermakna kita bayar 20 peratus lebih tinggi untuk import termasuk bagi bahan mentah dan komponen untuk industri

Oleh sebab harga minyak disebut dalam Dollar Amerika, kenaikan harga minyak dalam Dollar sepatutnya dikurangkan sebanyak 20 pertaus dalam Ringgit Malaysia.

Tetapi Kerajaan hendak turut Tabung Kewangan Antarabangsa dan Bank Dunia dan telah putuskan untuk mengapung Ringgit. Akibatnya kekuatan Ringgit hanya meningkatkan kos export tanpa memberi sebarang keuntungan kepada rakyat menerusi kekurangan kos import.

Ini bukanlah kecerdikan selepas sesuatu itu terjadi. Saya telah beritahu seorang Menteri Kerajaan supaya Ringgit tidak diapungkan tiga tahun lalu. Memanglah saya bukan pakar dan saya hanya tahu serba sedikit tentang rejim kewangan antarabangsa.

Saya percaya umum terpaksa menerima kenaikan harga petrol. Tetapi apa yang menimbulkan kemarahan ialah jumlah kenaikan serta keadaan tergesa-gesa. Perdana Menteri sebelum ini seolah-olah mencadangkan kenaikan hanya pada bulan Ogos, tetapi ianya datang dua bulan lebih awal, sejurus selepas pengharaman penjualan kepada orang asing.

Jika kenaikan berperingkat, rakyat tidak akan terlalu terasa. Tetapi ini bermakna Kerajaan perlu terus beri subsidi walaupun tahapnya akan menurun.

Mampukah Kerajaan terus beri subsidi? Saya “penasihat” Petronas tetapi saya tahu sedikit sahaja berkenaannya dan tidak lebih daripada apa yang dilaporkan dalam akaunnya yang diumumkan. Apa yang saya tahu mungkin tidak begitu tepat tetapi cukup untuk saya membuat beberapa penilaian.

Malaysia mengeluar lebih kurang 650,000 tong minyak sehari. Kita guna 400,000 tong dan selebihnya 250,000 tong di export.

Tiga tahun lalu minyak mentah dijual pada kadar USD30 satu tong. Hari ini ianya USD130 – kenaikan sebanyak USD100. Hampir tiada peningkatan di dalam kos pengeluaran oleh itu lebihan USD100 boleh dianggap untung bersih.

250,000 tong yang dieksport sepatutnya memberi kita pulangan 250,000 x 100 x 365 x 3 = RM27,375,000,000 (Dua puluh tujuh bilion Ringgit).

Tetapi Petronas untung lebih RM70 billion, yang kesemuanya milik Kerajaan.

Kerajaan ini melimpah dengan wang.

Selain minyak, harga minyak sawit, getah dan timah juga meningkat lebih kurang 400 peratus. Keuntungan syarikat perladangan dan bank-bank juga mencecah sehingga RM3 billion tiap satu. Cukai yang dibayar juga sudah tentu mengalami peningkatan yang tinggi.

Saya percaya jika subsidi dikekalkan dan dikurangkan secara berperingkat ianya tidak akan mengekang kewangan Kerajaan.

Di dalam jangka masa terdekat cara untuk mengurangkan pembaziran dan menaikkan pendapatan mestilah diperkenal. Kita mungkin tidak dapat menetapkan gaji minima, tetapi sudah tentu kita boleh meningkatkan sedikit jumlah gaji minima.

Sebenarnya pendapatan kita tinggi berbanding sesetengah jiran kita. Pelabur yang datang ke sini tertarik bukan dengan harga buruh murah, tetapi faktor-faktor lain termasuk sikap dan pendekatan Kerajaan tehadap komuniti perniaga terutamanya pelabur.

Daripada apa yang saya dengar, sikap mesra peniaga amat berkurangan pada Kerajaan sekarang hinggakan orang Malaysia juga melabur di luar negara. Terdapat cakap-cakap berkenaan hubungan politik mempengaruhi keputusan. Secara amnya ahli politik Kerajaan dikatakan sombong.

Malaysia tidak punyai cukup tenaga kerja. Industri yang memerlukan tenaga pekerja yang ramai tidak menguntungkan Malaysia. Pekerja asing menghantar jumlah wang yang besar ke negara asal mereka.

Polisi industri mestilah bertukar agar teknologi tinggi dapat dipromosikan untuk memberi rakyat Malaysia lebihan pendapatan bagi menampung kos sara hidup yang meningkat.

Dunia sedang menghadapi kecelaruan ekonomi akibat penurunan nilai Dollar Amerika, krisis pinjaman sub-prima, kenaikan harga minyak dan bahan mentah, kekurangan makanan dan akiviti tamak “hedge funds” yang berterusan. Kemungkinan berlakunya resesi ekonomi Amerika Syarikat adalah benar. Sebenarnya Amerika Syarikat sedang mengalami kelembapan ekonomi. Ekonomi dunia akan turut ditarik turun.

Malaysia juga akan terjejas kesan daripada semua masalah ini. Saya tertanya adakah Kerajaan bersedia untuk menghadapi semua ini.

Kita tidak boleh lari daripada akibat negatif tetapi mestilah ada cara untuk mengatasinya agar beban yang terpaksa ditanggung rakyat dapat dikurangkan. Saya harap yang Kerajaan tidak akan melepaskan sahaja segala masalah ini kepada rakyat seperti ynag digambarkan cadangan untuk menilai harga minyak setiap bulan.

Posted by Dr. Mahathir Mohamad at 12:56 PM

tokmoh said,
June 6, 2008 @ 12:43 am

My favourite cendol pulut besar at SS15 Subang Jaya oredi become RM2 when previously it was RM1.90. I never need to ask that mamak why.

The ripple effect has already begun. Sigh……

I am prepared to welcome DSAI as our new PM this Sept. May God bless Malaysia. Amen.

shah74 said,
June 6, 2008 @ 8:56 am

where the monies goes…?

Here the truth…

Shell is still control the market share in malaysia… either in upstream or downstream..they have a bigger number of petrol station… and study shown that many malaysian people still prefer or have to buy from them or others brand such as caltex, and exxon …. AND these oil companies are nett importer….since the govt. do not allowed them to sell at the higher price…according to the market situation….then govt have to pay back to them in cash the different….bear in mind these companies are totally belong to the foreign….and they are GIANTS OIL COMPANIES in the world.

We are in the losing side here…..and this already happen for so many years…any idea on how to tackle it.

scirocco said,
June 6, 2008 @ 8:59 am

SYOH,

Tried to cast out Pak Lah? before the elections… What about the 20 over years he was in power??? You mean to tell me that the public transportation and our high priced cars and F1 races are Pak Lah’s doing?
If I were to see him face to face I’d tell him the same thing. That I think he simply did not do enough when he was in power. That’s it.

“Dear All,

Tun Dr Mahathir tried the “prevention” way by trying to outcast Pak Lah a year before general election by commenting some of Pak Lah’s actions to the public, but because Tun Dr. Mahathir is no longer in power and with very limited influence, Pak Lah and his gang manage to outcast him instead by blocking his words to be released to the press (media control), by disallowing any UMNO and BN leaders to meet him and et-cetera. He has explained everything in detail in his blog sometime 2 weeks ago, you can get it at chedet.com At least that man has that responsibility to spit it out to the public, quit from UMNO, carry on the fight openly and risk kena ISA as well. How about you? We can only dare all this “berani” words behind our nicknames in the blogging world…”

osh_kosh said,
June 6, 2008 @ 10:13 am

SYOH,

thanks bro, for the info.. should just put a ‘link’ there to safe space.. hmmm, almost the same POV with TDM, minus the Political part hahaha.. not really agree with him

btw, yerterday had received a faxed letter from a haulier company announcing the increase in FAF quantum rate to 18.26% with immediate effect… guess why?

Scirocco, do u suggested that SIC & F1 is a failure? if i may ask, what make u think that way??

p/s: me too noticed that somehow the traffic was lesser yerterday, very strange feelings… last night also, when i’m out with my son for a movie it seems lesser, normally at that time & area there will be a lot of cars with a considerably slow crawl..

Raincoat said,
June 6, 2008 @ 10:13 am

Ok…this price hike reminds me of one of our minister who has quoted..”di negara maju, kebanyakan rakyatnya pakai basikal untuk ke destinasi tertentu, so kenapa kita tidak bole?” —-(tak ingat sapa)

But for your information, negara maju tu, most of them have temperature lower than 20oC. So pakai basikal pun tak berpeluh! Kat Malaysia nih naik basikal dari keramat ke KLCC dah basah satu badan, camna nak kerja!

scirocco said,
June 6, 2008 @ 10:45 am

osh_kosh

i simply think that the money could be better spent elsewhere. so many millions spent on the SIC and on the F1 races and for what? So some bunch of elites can pay a few hundred bucks every year to watch the F1? and delusion ourselves that we are a first world country bcos, hey, we host the F1 races! sure it promotes the country, but is it really necessary when the rest of the malaysians r finding it difficult to make ends meet, potholes and crimes abound, our deserving students lacking scholarships, i could go on and on and on.

shenzutong said,
June 6, 2008 @ 10:48 am

SYOH, looks like you are one of the groups who admire this Mahafiraun (MM the Big Cheat) said in his CETEK.com blog. Let me give you my opinions:

1. PETRONAS raked in billions and MM has been the PM for so many years and now still the advisor. Can he answer my questions: Why MM allows petroleum money to be used to build the Petronas Twin Towers and Sepang F1? What benefits and actual GDP growth do these icons produced all these years? What about those Mega Projects which failed? How much petroleum money has MM used to bail out his sons’ companies and also of the cronies in 1997 financial crisis? Is it true that MM sacked DSAI because he refused to oblige with the bail out? Don’t you think it’s sheer nonsense and blatant lie MM talked about (as a PM for more than 22 years, he didn’t know where the PETRONAS money has gone)?

2. MM also said that our purchasing power is higher than the US and UK because the GDP here is lower.He failed to mention that the car price there reflects the true price without the exorbitant EXCISE DUTY and SALES TAX as in Bolehland. Hence, the people there can afford the high fuel price. For example, if yoy buy a Honda Accord at a fair price minus the auto tax, and you can save RM60K, imagine the amount of petrol you can buy with RM60K (which is about RM12000 per year for 5 years, about RM1000 per month ). .Now, the petrol price in Bolehland is even higher than that in China which is not an exporter of petroleum, and our GDP is much higher than China. Don’t you think this MM is fooling us? What the Fx#@ is MM talking about? He is the one who comes out with APs(enrich the selected ones and his cronies) and Heavy Excise Duty which burdens the RAKYAT for more than 20 years (in order to protect the so-called national car projects, and billions of RAKYAT Blood and Sweat monies gone with the wind). He is the real culprit, not the present PM.

3. The Hike in TENAGA Electricity tariff recently is also due to this MM’s great deed by asking PETRONAS to subsidise the IPPs when he was the PM. A big chunk of the PETRONAS monies go to IPPs (you can get the details in Jeff Ooi’s Blog). Talk to the former TENAGA Chairman (TanSri Ani), he can tell you those inside stories how this MM helps the tycoons. The present Guomen must ask IPPs to pay windfall tax from the date when subsidies was given, not from 2008 onwards. It’s unfair to the RAKYAT. Shahrir must be smart enough to do that. By the way, MM privatised TNB, Telekom and many other state own assets and businesses during his reign of absolute power. Guess it benefits who? Go and find out yourself.
.
3. As for the currency floating. Bank Negara is doing the right thing by allowing the Ringgit to float (they follow the Chinese very closely in relaxing the Capital Controls imposed by MM in 1998). This is the right move in order to curb inflation by keeping the interest rate unchanged. MM punished DSAI for allowing the interest rate to go up in 1997-1998 and claimed that DSAI tried to impress IMF. Now , MM is talking about IMF again. Do you still want to believe his crap? If Bank Negara were to follow his idea of not letting the Ringit to float, imagine what will happen? Bank Negara may have to raise interest rate at an alarming rate, and all the sectors will be hurt. Bolehland will face negative growth as in 1997 and it will be a disaster. FDIs will shrink because Bolehland will turn to a situation like Argentina faced years ago. MM will then laughing loudly in his posh BMW and in his luxurious home. RAKYAT will become beggars.

4. The best thing to do now is for the present PM to withdraw this hike in Petrol and Tenaga Electricity tariff and do it progressively while reducing the auto excise duty and sales tax at once. The road tax for a 1300cc vehicle is less than RM170, even if the Guomen abolish all the road tax, the positive effect is negligible (less than RM15 a month). It only benefits the rich who owns posh and luxurious cars.

5. The 2nd finance minister said that the PETRONAS monies must be reserved for the next generations. I don’t understand his logic. I think it’s an excuse may be because the cronies in the party want to channel all these monies (petrol and diesel subsidies)to develop those CORRIDORS and guess who will benefit? Those who have bought large hectares of land in the CORRIDORS years earlier, and now these monies will be used to build infrastructure. They will then sell the land and their projects will rake in billions of ringgit, into their own pockets, quietly of course. How smart (using PETRONAS monies for their own personal agendas)?

Frankly, I am angry and I feel sad because we have a bunch of big cheats who do not fear the Al-Mighty, spreading sweet words, twist and turn their tongue,
fooling the RAKYAT of Bolehland, and denying all his wrong deeds. And millions of innocent ppl admire him like a Hero. What kind of shit in this BOLEHLAND?

Syoh, do your home work and open your eyes and ears. This is my advice. Prepare for the worst and keep all your cash. Stay at home, don’t go out often, save your money.

prado700 said,
June 6, 2008 @ 10:52 am

Is Malaysia’s Fuel Price Cheaper??
gas price on oil producing countries. (Pls DO NOT compare us with countries with NO gas production). Below are based on per Litre and currency conversion are based on USD 1:RM3.23.
UAE RM1.19, Bahrain RM0.87, Egypt RM1.03, Qatar RM0.68, Kuwait RM0.67, Saudi RM0.38, Iran RM0.35, Nigeria RM0.32 Venezeula RM0.16.
Saudi Arabia is the biggest producer of Crude Petroleum Oil. Its citizen does not pay Income Tax except a minimum amount of Zakat. Does not have import food duties & tax. It does tax foreign imported cars. Free local calls and Free TOLL on all Roads.
What about Brunei. No income Tax. Free Education till Tertiary Education ie. PHD. Free health care and free medical bills for maternity/delivery. Free TOLL on all Roads.
Are we a Oil Producing Country? Why it took us 50 years to realise this?WHY?
We don’t mind to pay market rates if Govt abolish sales and excise tax for vehicles.

Champions League: Lampard only has eyes for final

2008-05-21T04:24:00.001-07:00

CHELSEA midfielder Frank Lampard insisted he is focused on the Champions League final against Manchester United in Moscow tomorrow (2.45am), amid more talk about his future.

Some British newspapers have speculated Lampard will join Inter Milan after the final — though Chelsea have said the Italians haven’t approached them.
“I’m very happy at Chelsea. My future will be sorted out in the summer.

I and the club have said we want to speak about my contract then,” said Lampard.

The former West Ham star is hoping to make it a ‘family double’ after his uncle, Harry Redknapp, won the FA Cup with Portsmouth last weekend.

“I was at Wembley on Saturday to see Harry win it and it was a great day for the family,” said Lampard.

“For what he has given to the game, he deserves that. I’m sure he and all the Redknapp family will support me in the final and it would be great to make it a family double.” Asked whether his penalty against Liverpool in the semi-final — in his first game back in the team following his mother’s death — was a defining moment, Lampard said: “That was a big moment for me but the final is the defining moment for the team. Some of our players have won the Champions League but a lot haven’t.

“Lifting the cup will top anything I did in semifinal.” Meanwhile, Chelsea manager Avram Grant once again refused to talk about his future.

Asked whether he would walk away after the game, the Israeli said: “Why? If it were a normal season, we would be on vacation.

We are in Moscow because we are here for the most important game for clubs in the world — the Champions League final.

“You need to respect everyone at Chelsea and ask questions about the final, not about me.”

Letih! letih!

2008-05-15T20:33:00.000-07:00

Itulah ungkapan rasanya patut diluahkan jika mahu melihat atlit bola sepak dan Hoki kita beraksi baru-baru ini.

Kalah, kalah dan kalah.. mungkin benarlah orang kata kalau asyik kalah sahaja jadi sudah macam biasa sahaja. Kita nak tengok pun letih.

Khasnya bole sepak, permainan kita tahu bola sepak semakin moden dengan latiahn taktik dan sebagainya. Tetapi sukan bola sepak di negara kita ini bangunan sahaja yang moden dan canggih, tapi pemain, jurulatih, pengurusan semua tertinggal jauh semakin mundur dan macam tidak berubah.

Setiap kali masuk bertanding mesti alasan mencari pengalaman, samapi bila pun tidak tahu?

Kita tahu bahawa bola sepak semakin canggih, teknologi pun semakin canggih. Jadi laburlah duit sedikit untuk mendapat bola sepak moden dan canggih. carilah jurulatih yang world kelas, yang boleh sediakan program latihan terkini, taktik terkini dan macam-macam lagi. Bukan sahaja diperingkat pusat malah diperingkat negeri.

Ini tidak, bola sepak kita masih tidak berubah semua peringat dilevel yang sama jadi macamana hendak berubah. Kita tahu bole sepak semakin moden tetapi kita tidak mahu berubah. Jadi sampai bila pun tidak akan berjaya.

Dewan Kemasyhuran menanti MU

2008-05-13T22:29:00.001-07:00

MANCHESTER, England - Alex Ferguson percaya skuad muda bimbingannya akan dikenang sebagai legenda di Old Trafford jika mereka berjaya memenangi perlawanan akhir bola sepak Liga Juara-Juara.

Selepas meraih gelaran Liga Perdana England, jurulatih dari Scotland itu kini beralih tumpuan kepada perlawanan akhir Liga Juara-Juara menentang Chelsea di Moscow pada 21 Mei ini.

Kemenangan sulung United pada Kejohanan Eropah itu bermula pada tahun 1968 yang akhirnya melahirkan nama-nama besar dalam bola sepak seperti George Best, Bobby Charlton dan Denis Law sementara era Ferguson bermula pada tahun 1999 membariskan bintang seperti David Beckham, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer dan Teddy Sheringham yang masih dipuja ke hari ini.

Ferguson mengakui potensi skuad bimbingannya terutamanya Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney dan Carlos Tevez untuk dinobatkan dalam Dewan Kemasyhuran Sukan United cerah jika menewaskan Chelsea pada perlawanan akhir di Moscow.

'Jika mereka menang Piala Eropah ini, mereka layak untuk diberikan penghormatan sewajarnya.

''Pemain-pemain ini masih muda dan menjadi seperti satu tradisi pasukan yang dalam purata usia 29 tahun selalunya akan menang perlawanan ini.

''Kami mempunyai ramai pemain muda antaranya Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Carloz Tevez, Anderson, Nani dan Darren Fletcher.

''Anderson mampu bermain tanpa berasa cemas di depan sejuta penonton. Itulah mentaliti pemain dari Brazil.

''Walaupun pemain-pemain muda ini berbakat besar, namun kami tidak boleh mengetepikan peranan orang lama seperti Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes dan Edwin van der Sar.

''Mereka ini penting bagi pembangunan dan kematangan pemain muda. Apa yang jelas peluang di Moscow begitu cerah,'' ujar Ferguson.

Sekiranya United mampu mempertahankan kejuaraan liga musim depan, bermakna pasukan itu akan menyamai rekod pencapaian Liverpool yang menang 18 kejuaraan.

''Saya tidak kata kami mampu melakukannya kerana rintangan masih banyak. Saya menjangkakan Arsenal dan Liverpool bertambah kuat apabila mereka membeli pemain-pemain terbaik.

''Begitu juga Chelsea yang pastinya akan menambah kekuatan sedia ada. Sama juga Everton dan Tottenham Hotspur,'' katanya.

- AFP

Nicol rampas kejuaraan Terbuka Britain

2008-05-13T22:13:00.001-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR - Ratu skuasy negara, Nicol David merampas kejuaraan Terbuka Britain yang terlepas dari genggaman tahun lalu apabila dengan mudah menewaskan pemain tuan rumah Jenny Duncalf 9-1, 10-8, 9-0 pada perlawanan akhir di Liverpool, semalam.

Ia merupakan kejuaraan ketiga Nicol di kejohanan tersebut selepas mengunggulinya pada 2005 dan 2006.

Kejuaraan itu lebih bermakna buat pemain nombor satu dunia itu apabila dinobat sebagai Olahragawati Kebangsaan 2007 pada majlis Anugerah Sukan Negara 2007 di sini, semalam yang dihadiri oleh Yang di- Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin.

Menurut Nicol, dia gembira kerana kembali menjulang kejuaraan Terbuka Britain.

''Walaupun menang di sini, masih terlalu awal untuk saya memikirkan soal merampas kembali kejuaraan di Terbuka Dunia,'' katanya.

Duncalf, pemain kurang ternama yang beraksi pada final pertama dalam karier hanya memberi tentangan pada set kedua.

Mudah mengalah 1-9 di set pertama, Duncalf cuba bangkit diset kedua sehingga berjaya mengikat mata 7-7 sebelum akhirnya terpaksa akur dengan kehebatan Nicol untuk menyerah 8-10 di set kedua.

Nicol tidak memberi ruang kepada lawan apabila menang 9-0 di set terakhir

Utusan Malaysia

Fast and Realible : BMW Sauber F1.08

2008-05-06T03:49:00.000-07:00

Four races into the season, the BMW Sauber F1 Team has completed more laps than any other Formula One team. The BMW Sauber F1.08 is proving to be very reliable, as well as being quick.

The BMW Sauber F1 Team has already picked up 35 points from four races in the 2008 Formula One season. The team from Munich and Hinwil is only one point away from equalling the final points tally from the 2006 season. This is a clear indication of the meteoric rise the BMW Sauber F1 Team has made into the group of top Formula One teams over the last 24 months.

However, the world championship points are not the only proof of the team's positive development. The BMW Sauber F1 Team leads the way when it comes to reliability. No car has completed more racing laps in 2008 than the BMW Sauber F1.08.

After four races, Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica have completed 463 laps in their cars - that is 2408km. Of these, Robert is responsible for 226,

Real lebar rekod juara ke-31

2008-05-06T03:46:00.000-07:00

Pemain-pemain Real Madrid meraikan kejayaan menjuarai bola sepak Liga Sepanyol bersama ribuan peminat mereka di Madrid, kelmarin.– AFP

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MADRID, Sepanyol – Real Madrid mencatat rekod kejuaraan bola sepak Liga Sepanyol ke-31, kelmarin apabila menewaskan Osasuna 2-1 hasil jaringan Arjen Robben dan pemain gantian, Gonzalo Higuain.

Higuain mendada bola hantaran Sergio Ramos sebelum merembat deras pada minit ke-89. Dua minit sebelum itu, Robben menanduk bola silang Fernando Gago untuk gol penyamaan.

Francisco Punal menyempurnakan penalti minit ke-83 untuk tuan rumah di depan selepas Madrid beraksi dengan 10 pemain pada minit ke-4 apabila Fabio Cannavaro dibuang padang.

“Ia ibarat filem sukan Amerika Syarikat di mana anda terpaksa berjuang dan akhirnya satu penamat yang menggembirakan.

“Dengan kurang seorang pemain, ia saat di mana kami beraksi lebih baik. Kami berhak menang,’’ kata jurulatih Real, Bernd Schuster.

Juara bertahan itu mengumpul 78 mata, 10 mata mengatasi Villarreal di tangga kedua— kedudukan yang tidak mampu lagi dihambat dengan baki tiga perlawanan.

Beribu-ribu penyokong Madrid berhimpun di pusat tradisi kelab itu, Plaza Cibeles bagi menyambut kepulangan juara Liga Sepanyol.

“Ini saat yang menggembirakan, kami perlu bergembira. Kami perlu kembali ke Madrid untuk meraikannya bersama para penyokong,’’ kata Schuster.

Punal mengambil sepakan penalti selepas bola terkena tangan pertahanan Madrid, Gabriel Heinze ketika perebutan bola.

Punal memperdaya penjaga gol Iker Casillas yang tersalah arah merebahkan badan dengan menyepak bola ke penjuru kiri pintu gol.

Madrid memberi ancaman awal namun Javier Saviola gagal menjolok bola hantaran Robben ke gawang ketika bola yang melantun dilihat terkena tangan pemain pertahanan Miguel Flano.

Osasuna memperoleh beberapa sepakan bebas dari luar kawasan penalti Madris namun tidak mencemaskan gawang lawan.

Cannavarro diarah keluar padang 20 saat sebelum rehat selepas mengutip kad kuning kedua.

Madrid perlu menang perlawanan tersebut untuk meraih kejuaraan kerana sebelum itu Villarreal menewaskan Getafe 2-0, dengan kedua-dua gol dijaringkan Nihat Kahveci.

– AP

Tawaran Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang kepada tokoh BN muslihat politik

2008-04-21T19:56:00.002-07:00

Tawaran Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang kepada tokoh-tokoh BN hanyalah bertujuan politik semata-mata untuk menunjuk-nunjuk kebaikan mereka. Selain untuk memujuk hati orang Melayu untuk menyokong mereka. Hakikatnya di Pulau Pinang dari 15 kerusi majoriti Melayu, Pakatan Pembangkang hanya memenangi 3 kerusi sahaja iaitu di Permatang Pasir, Sungai Bakap dan Batu Maung, selainnya dimenangi oleh UMNO.

Kerajaan Pulau Pinang dikatakan turut menawarkan peranan dalam pentadbiran kerajaan kepada tiga Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) Umno negeri itu.

Mereka adalah Adun Sungai Acheh, Dato' Mahmud Zakaria; Adun Seberang Jaya, Dato' Ariff Shah Omar Shah dan Adun Pulau Betong, Muhamad Farid Saad.

Dalam akhbar Berita Harian hari ini (21 April), ketiga-tiga mereka mengesahkan telah ditawarkan tempat sebagai ahli jawatankuasa pentadbiran kerajaan. Mereka bagaimanapun sepakat menolak pelawaan tersebut.

"Biarlah mereka mentadbir dengan cara mereka. Kita beri peluang dan ruang yang cukup kepada mereka," kata Muhammad Farid.

Ketua Pembangkang, Dato' Azhar Ibrahim pula menganggap penyertaan Adun Umno dalam pentadbiran kerajaan negeri dibimbangi akan menyukarkan pihaknya untuk membawa suara rakyat.

"Kita tidak mahu mereka menuding jari kepada kita apabila Umno membangkitkan sesuatu isu hanya kerana ada Adun dari Umno menganggotai jawatankuasa yang dikritik," katanya, sebagaimana disiarkan Berita Harian.

Sebenarnya sikap seperti ini harus diberikan pujian. Inilah sebenarnya bukan pendirian UMNO semata-mata tetapi ianya perlu dilihat sebagai pendirian orang Melayu terhadap DAP. Apabila bekas Timbalan Setiausaha Agung Gerakan, Dato' Lee Kah Choon menerima pelawaan tersebut, sebenarnya ianya bukanlah satu kejutan kerana sikap seperti ini telah ditunjukkan oleh kebanyakan pengundi kaum Cina di Pulau Pinang yang mimlih DAP dan menolak BN.

Posted

Bau najis babi Jerman paling busuk

2008-04-21T19:56:00.001-07:00

Terdapat laporan Akhbar tentang ternakan babi ini. Dunia sebenarnya telah akui bahawa ternakan babi ini akan membawa bencana kepada alam sekitar serta menceamarkan bau sebagaimana berlaku di Jerman. Apa agaknya akan terjadi kepada penduduk Sepang sekiranya projek babi kerajaan PKR Selangor dilaksanakan. Walaupun Jerman terkenal sebagai negara maju dan termoden namun hakikatnya babi tetap babi dan baunya tetap busuk. Sila lihat berita ini:-

LONDON: Berjuta-juta penduduk Britain dilaporkan terpaksa menahan bau busuk najis babi dari Jerman yang disifatkan sebagai bau paling busuk bagi kawasan Eropah, lapor akhbar paling popular, The Sun.

Bau berkenaan dari ladang ternak di Jerman merentasi hingga Selat Inggeris dan memenuhi ruang udara di England dari Essex hingga ke seluruh London dan sejauh Swindon di Wiltshire, lapor akhbar itu, Sabtu lalu.

Apa yang paling buruk bau berkenaan dilaporkan akan terus dinikmati penduduk di Britain sehingga semalam malah bau berkenaan juga dapat 'dinikmati' Ratu England yang menghuni di Istana Windsor.

Jurucakap pejabat pelancongan di Windsor, Berkshire berkata: "Ketika saya meninggalkan rumah pagi ini, bau berkenaan amat kuat. Saya berharap Ratu menutup tingkap istananya."

Thames Water berkata: "Penduduk kawasan kami hingga Swindon dan Reading yang jauh, terhidu bau pelik berkenaan.

"Sesetengah mereka mengatakan ia hanyir manakala yang lain menyifatkan ia seperti baja.

Seorang pemandu trak, Jim Forrest, 55 dari Maidstone, Kent berkata bau berkenaan memualkan tekak hingga menyebabkan mata berair.

"Baunya hingga ke kawasan flat kediaman saya.

"Saya sukar bernafas dan ia seperti bau najis dan amat teruk sekali," kata Ann Schlachter dari East London.

The Sun melaporkan, bau itu berpunca daripada penggunaan baja najis babi yang dihasilkan daripada penternakan kira-kira 25 juta khinzir di Jerman.

Penternak babi, Hauke Jaacks, mengakui bahawa beliau menyembur 5,000 gelen baja di kawasan ladangnya di Rissen di barat laut Jerman.

"Maaf kerana bau itu tetapi anda perlu menghadapinya. Saya perlukan rumput untuk ditanam bagi makanan ternakan saya."

Sementara itu pakar meteorologi, John Hammond berkata bahawa bau busuk luar biasa berkenaan disebabkan keadaan cuaca di mana angin membawa bau berkenaan dan menjejaskan seluruh kawasan tenggara England.

Pejabat polis, jabatan perkhidmatan kecemasan dan stesen radio tempatan menerima banyak aduan daripada penduduk yang menuntut pihak berkuasa memberitahu punca bau berkenaan.

Kira-kira 1,000 aduan diterima Perbadanan Penyiaran Britain (BBC).

Agensi akhbar nasional Jerman, DPA, akur negara itu bersalah dengan berkata:

"Punca bau busuk kini diketahui - angin sebelah timur dan babi Jerman - mewujudkan bom busuk." – Agensi

(Berita Harian:22/4/08)

Kenapa Keistimewaan Hak Melayu terancam apabila UMNO kalah

2008-04-17T21:08:00.000-07:00

Terdapat banyak pihak yang mengatakan bahawa Keistimewaan Hak Melayu tidak terancam apabila UMNO kalah dan ada yang mengatakan sebaliknya. Bagi pembangkang jelas mengatakan bahawa orang Melayu langsung tidak terancam apabila mereka menang pada Pilihanraya Umum ke-12 yang lalu. Manakala bagi sebahagian orang Melayu kebanyakan masih berada dalam zon selesa kerana berpendapat PAS dan PKR adalah parti majoriti bangsa Melayu dan tentu dapat memperjuangkan hak orang Melayu.

Namun fakta menunjukkan sebaliknya kerana PAS dan PKR sebenarnya tiada agenda khusus untuk orang Melayu khasnya untuk mempertahankan Ketuanan dan Keistimewaan Hak Melayu. Antara tujuan PAS yang disebut dalam perlembagaan Awal mereka ialah memelihara dan mempertahankan hak-hak kepentingan dan kehormatan agama dan Umat Islam. Manakala PKR pula di dalam dasarnya ( PKR On-line )tiada menyebut secara jelas tentang hala tuju Keistimewaan Orang Melayu.

Melalui Perlembagaan UMNO ( UMNO On-line )sahaja ada menyebut dengan jelas seperti tertera dibawah:

FASAL 3
ASAS DAN TUJUAN
UMNO adalah sebuah parti politik yang berjuang mendukung cita-cita kebangsaan Melayu demi mengekalkan maruh dan martabat bangsa, agama dan negara.
3.1 Mempertahankan kemerdekaan dan kedaulatan negara.

3.2 Mendukung dan mempertahankan Perlembagaan Negara, Perlembagaan Negeri-negeri dan Raja Berpelembagaan.

3.3 Menegak, mempertahan dan mengembangkan Islam, agama rasmi negara serta menghormati prinsip kebangsaan beragama.

3.4 Mempertahankan kedaulatan rakyat dan keadilan sosial dengan mengamalkan Sistem Pemerintahan Demokrasi Berparlimen serta memajukan ekonomi rakyat Melayu dan Bumiputera khasnya dan rakyat Malaysia amnya.

3.5 Menjamin kedudukan Bahasa Kebangsaan (Bahasa Melayu) sebagai bahasa rasmi yang tunggal dan Kebudayaan Kebangsaan yang berteraskan Kebudayaan Melayu.

3.6 Mewujudkan kerjasama antara kaum bagi melahirkan satu bangsa Malaysia yang kuat dan bersatu berasaskan kepada hak-hak Asasi Manusia dan Hak-Hak Istimewa Orang Melayu dan Bumiputera.

Jadi apa yang PAS dan PKR sebut tentang hak orang Melayu akan terjamin adalah seuatu tidak benar kerana tiada disebut secara khusus dalam perlembagaan dan dasar parti mereka.

Sebab itu, ketuanan Melayu dan Hak Istimewa orang Melayu hanya dipertahankan oleh UMNO sahaja tiada parti yang lain dari segi perlembagaan dan dasar parti. Pilihanraya umum ke-12 yang lalu, apabila BN yang ditunjangi oleh UMNO di tolak oleh orang bukan Melayu khasnya apabila MCA dan Gerakan kalah besar bermakna secara langsungnya seperti menolak hak Keistimewaan Orang Melayu. Dari 61 kerusi yang ditandingi MCA, Gerakan dan MIC, hanya 20 kerusi sahaja atau 32% sahaja telah dimenangi. 68% lagi kerusi ini dimenangi oleh calon pembangkang.

Perkara ini perlu jelas di kalangan Orang Melayu. Sebagai rakyat Malysia kita amat menghormati pengundi bukan Melayu kerana mereka telah bersama orang Melayu membangunkan negara ini. Orang Melayu melalui UMNO sentiasa bekerja sama dengan parti komponen yang lain serta berkongsi kuasa dengan mereka.
Namun dalam masa yang sama institusi ketuanan dan keistimewaan Melayu perlu dipertahankan.

Terengganu belanja RM6.4j beri atap percuma

2008-04-17T19:11:00.000-07:00

KUALA TERENGGANU 16 - Kerajaan Terengganu telah meluluskan peruntukan serta-merta berjumlah RM6.4 juta bagi membantu keluarga miskin di negeri ini membaik pulih bumbung-bumbung rumah mereka tahun ini.

Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said berkata bantuan tersebut adalah bagi menggantikan bumbung-bumbung atap zink atau nipah yang telah rosak kepada atap asbestos.

"Setiap kawasan Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) akan diberikan peruntukan sebanyak RM200,000 bagi tujuan itu.

"Sebagai permulaan setiap penduduk miskin akan diberikan 50 keping atap asbestos. Bantuan ini akan disalurkan dalam tempoh seminggu dua lagi," katanya kepada pemberita selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat mingguan Exco di sini hari ini.

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Tahniah dan syabas Kerajaan BN negeri Terengganu.. tak payah nak heboh-heboh, negara kebajikan la, negara itu la, ini la. Telur sebiji riuh sekampung... Macam negeri Pakatan Pembangkang.. tapi haprak.. sampai sekarang pun tak de apa-apa lagi. Kata nak kata dapat air free... rupanya dapat babi...

kesian...kesian

Posted by hasmy at 9:53

Azizan menghina Melayu Johor

2008-04-16T01:13:00.000-07:00

Saya sebenarnya tertarik dengan artikel Utusan Malaysia yang menyebut Johor bakal jadi muzium UMNO - Azizan,

Dalam laporan tersbut menyatakan, Pakatan pembangkang antara Pas, DAP dan Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) berhasrat menguasai beberapa negeri lain pada pilihan raya umum akan datang dan meninggalkan Johor kepada UMNO sebagai 'muzium'.

Menteri Besar Kedah, Azizan Abdul Razak berkata, matlamat berkenaan boleh dicapai selepas pakatan pembangkang itu berjaya menawan Kedah, Perak, Pulau Pinang dan Selangor pada pilihan raya umum lalu.

Katanya, antara negeri yang akan mereka rampas daripada Barisan Nasional (BN) dan UMNO selepas ini ialah Perlis, Terengganu dan Pahang.

''Kita akan menguasai semua negeri seperti Perlis, Terengganu dan Pahang pada pilihan raya umum akan datang dan kita mahu tinggalkan Johor kepada UMNO sebagai muzium.

''Kalau orang mahu tengok UMNO, pergilah ke Johor,'' katanya di hadapan kira-kira 50,000 hadirin pada Majlis Perhimpunan Rakyat di Stadium Perak anjuran pakatan pembangkang di sini malam tadi.

Sejarah membuktikan bahawa setiap pilihanraya dari tahun 1959 keputusan pilihanraya membuktikan turun naik terhadap sokongan kerajaan Barisan Nasional dan pembangkang.

Ucapan oleh MB Kedah ini sebenarnya dilihat sebagai super ego dan takbur. Belum 100 hari memerintah tetapi telah membuat kenyataan yang menyentuh hati dan jiwa UMNO iaitu Melayu Johor khususnya dan Melayu Malaysia amnya. Putaran roda mungkin berpusing, "hari ini hari aku mungkin esok hari kau". Rakyat belum lagi melihat pelaksanaan apa yang dijanjikan oleh PAS. Lima tahun lagi rakyat akan menilai, Terengganu pernah kalah kepada PAS dan kembali ke tangan BN. Ini mungkin juga akan berlaku kepada negeri-negeri yang ditadbir pembangkang sekarang.

Ini adalah penghinaan yang amat dahsyat kepada Melayu Johor yang dianggap sebagai tapak perpaduan bangsa Melayu. UMNO adalah wadah perjuangan bangsa Melayu untuk menuntut kemerdekaan negara. Menghina UMNO Johor seperti menghina orang Melayu keseluruhannya. UMNO perlu bangkit semula, sekarang bukan masa untuk bertelagah tetapi masa untuk mengatur langkah.

Selamat Datang ke Blog Kopi Tarik

2008-04-15T00:54:00.000-07:00

Selamat datang ke blog kopi tarik. Blog ini adalah untuk membincangkan isu-isu semasa khasnya berkaitan kepentingan dan masa hadapan Bangsa Melayu di tanah air ini... selamat berblog

Pakatan Pembangkang sedia bentuk kerajaan, semua kaum akan dibela - Melayu terpinggir

2008-04-15T00:29:00.002-07:00

Sekali lagi kita melihat, terdapat manusia dari bangsa kita akan menjual bangsanya sendiri. Tiada lagi ketuanan Melayu, sejarah agung tamadun tanah Melayu akan terpadam. Akan datang, tiada lagi dalam lipatan sejarah orang Melayu akan memimpin negara.

Kemunculan Ketua Umum KeADILan, Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim ke podium ucapannya disorak meriah oleh hadirin yang dianggarkan lebih 20,000 orang itu.

Menurut laporan Harakah Daily , dalam ucapannya itu juga, beliau berjanji jika berjaya membentuk kerajaan persekutuan kelak nasib semua kaum tanpa mengira bangsa akan dibela secara adil tanpa mengira pangkat dan kedudukan.

"Kita tidak akan menumpukan kepada ketuanan satu kaum sahaja, tetapi kita akan mengutamakan ketuanan rakyat Malaysia yang terdiri dari kaum Melayu, Cina, India serta bumiputera Sabah dan Sarawak," katanya apabila disorak dengan meriah oleh hadirin yang hadir pada malam tadi.

Menang sorak kampung tergadai. Bunyinya memang indah tetapi sebenarnya menghiris hati dan kalbu bangsa Melayu. Apa maknanya jika bangsa Melayu disamakan dengan kaum lain di tanah air mereka sendiri. Kita memang mengakui bahawa kaum bukan melayu banyak membantu untuk membangun negara dan kita bersama-sama berkongsi kuasa untuk memerintah negara. Namun dalam masa yang sama kita masih menghormati hak sosial kaum-kaum lain dan inilah yang dibuat oleh BN. Tetapi berbeza dengan pakatan pembangkang demi kuasa, maruah bangsa Melayu dijual dan dijaja demi untuk mendapat undian dan sokongan. Tiada lagi hak keistimewaan orang Melayu... Orang Melayu hanya menumpang ditanah sendiri.

‘Seperti talam dua muka’ - Surat 1

2008-04-15T00:29:00.001-07:00

KALAU takut dilambung ombak, jangan berumah di tepi pantai. Itulah kata perumpamaan orang Melayu yang senang untuk difahami.

Untuk menjadi seorang ahli politik, janganlah takut dengan kritikan.

YB Teresa Kok perlu tahu peranan akhbar. Sama juga dengan laman blog Teresa Kok yang memuatkan cerita-cerita mencari kesalahan kerajaan.

Tak perlu menyalahkan Utusan Malaysia yang menyiar berita-berita yang mengkritik anda. Peranan Utusan Malaysia sebagai akhbar ‘penyebar fikiran rakyat’ tidak boleh dinafikan.

Bagaimana pula dengan peranan-peranan akhbar-akhbar lain di pihak pembangkang yang sering menyiarkan berita-berita yang menghentam kerajaan.

Kami sebagai rakyat berhak juga menyampaikan bantahan atau rasa tidak puas hati kami melalui saluran media seperti akhbar Utusan Malaysia.

Teresa berkata, sejak isu kandang babi di Selangor hebat diperkatakan, berita-berita yang telah disiarkan yang mengaitkan nama beliau di akhbar-akhbar telah sedikit sebanyak mencalar imejnya sebagai wakil rakyat.

Sebenarnya imej anda sebagai wakil rakyat telah lama ‘tercemar’ gara-gara anda menjaja cerita klip video seorang wanita yang dipercayai pada mulanya warga China semasa di tahanan polis tidak lama dulu. Anda telah menjaja klip video termasuk di Dewan Rakyat yang akhirnya membawa kepada kerajaan Malaysia terpaksa memohon maaf kepada kerajaan China. Rakyat tidak akan lupa.

Cerita ini telah mendapat liputan yang meluas di akhbar-akhbar di China pada ketika itu. Tetapi sebaliknya setelah siasatan dijalankan dan didapati tahanan wanita itu adalah warga tempatan berketurunan Melayu.

Anda nampaknya telah mendahului pihak polis ketika siasatan dijalankan. Saya nak tanya pada Teresa, pernahkah anda memohon maaf kepada rakyat dan kerajaan Malaysia berhubung peristiwa ini?

Apakah pula tujuan sebenar Teresa dalam laman blognya menyiarkan gambar ‘lima ekor babi panggang’ setelah diumumkan yang parti pembangkang berjaya menguasai lima negeri dalam pilihan raya yang lepas?

Mengapa anda padamkan gambar tersebut di laman blog anda sekarang? Adakah anda takut rakyat akan membantah atau- pun anda takut dengan bayang-bayang sendiri?

Anda sebagai wakil rakyat DAP mungkin ada sebab berasa bangga dengan kelulusan yang diberikan oleh kerajaan baru negeri Selangor.

Tetapi jangan lupa semasa kerajaan BN memerintah sebelum ini, projek itu baru dikenal pasti seperti memperkenalkan teknologi yang akan digunakan dan mencari kawasan yang sesuai untuk ladang baru babi yang berskala kecil sahaja.

Dan sebelum pilihan raya lepas dilihat pihak pembangkang ketika itu (Pas dan PKR) beria-ia membantah cadangan mendirikan ladang ternakan babi yang baru.

Masa berkempen mereka dengan lantang menolak dan menuduh BN menyokong projek ternakan babi yang baru dicadangkan itu.

Tetapi setelah berjaya memerintah negeri Selangor lain pula jadinya. Ia menjadi agenda utama kerajaan baru untuk meluluskan projek mega ladang babi dengan segera.

Sebab itulah rasanya Teresa berasa amat berbangga dengan kelulusan cepat ini. Pelik tapi benar. Pas dan PKR seperti talam dua muka.

Semasa menjadi pembangkang mereka membantah, tetapi semasa memerintah mereka menyokong pula.

Ini adalah kenyataan yang harus ditelan oleh penyokong-penyokong Pas dan PKR yang selama ini membantah projek tersebut. Bantahan anda selama ini adalah macam anjing menyalak bukit. Sia-sia sahaja.

Nasihat saya kepada penyokong-penyokong Pakatan Rakyat agar teruskan usaha murni anda semua untuk membantah kerajaan yang anda semua pilih sama seperti anda semua membantah kerajaan BN yang terdahulu daripada terus menjadikan pro- jek ladang babi ini menjadi kenyataan.

Sepatutnya selepas berjaya memerintah, Menteri Besar, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim ada kuasa untuk membatalkan cadangan projek tersebut demi menjaga hati penduduk Sepang dan juga penyokong Pas dan PKR yang bertungkus-lumus membantah projek tersebut.

Yang menjadi kemusykilan sekarang mengapa Menteri Besar tetap dengan keputusan ahli Exco meneruskan projek ini. Macam ada udang di sebalik batu.

Kepada tiga ahli Exco Selangor daripada Pas yang turut sama menyokong meluluskan ladang ternakan babi, mungkin anda boleh memberi pelbagai alasan untuk meredakan perasaan marah penduduk Melayu Selangor.

Jadi, ingatlah Teresa. Jangan takut pada kritikan kerana ia adalah asam garam kehidupan kepada anda sebagai seorang ahli politik.

Jadilah kritikan sebagai cermin untuk anda melihat dan mengenali diri anda sendiri dengan lebih dekat dan mendalam.

Ia akan menjadikan anda lebih berhati-hati dalam mengeluarkan kenyataan pada masa akan datang.

Jangan salahkan akhbar jika mereka mengkritik anda kerana tugas mereka hanya menyampai dan menyuarakan keresahan rakyat tentang isu ini.

TAMINSARI

Shah Alam

Import sahaja daging babi

2008-04-15T00:28:00.002-07:00

Saya tertarik dengan isu babi yang diperkatakan sekarang. Sebagai rakyat Malaysia, saya inginkan isu itu diselesaikan cepat. Sebagai orang Islam, saya berharap projek jutaan ringgit itu tidak digunakan untuk membiak babi, binatang yang jelas sekali diharamkan dalam Islam.

Pada pendapat saya, sebagai sebuah kerajaan yang ditadbir oleh orang Islam dan penduduknya majoriti adalah orang Islam, kerajaan negeri Selangor mesti mengharamkan projek tersebut untuk kebaikan semua.

Kerajaan negeri Selangor tidak boleh meluluskan projek tersebut walaupun ia ditempatkan di kawasan yang ramai penduduk bukan Islam. Tetapi kita hendaklah menyedari, walaupun tempat itu dikatakan ramai orang bukan Islam, di kawasan sekitarnya mesti ada orang Islam walaupun sedikit jumlahnya.

Asalnya negara ini dikenali dengan Tanah Melayu. Walaupun sudah bertukar kepada Malaysia sejak sekian lama, majoriti rakyat negara ini masih lagi kekal orang Melayu.

Kita semua sedia maklum bahawa babi keseluruhannya membawa penyakit dan kemudaratan; tidak kiralah di mana pun ia hendak dipelihara. Lupakan kepada virus Nipah yang menggemparkan negara sehingga banyak wang digunakan untuk memulihkan keadaan. Industri pelancongan terjejas ketika itu.

Saya juga mendapati kebanyakan penduduk Malaysia lebih gemar menikmati hidangan yang halal seperti daging ayam, kambing dan lembu. Malah makanan ini lebih membawa kebaikan kepada kita semua. Jumlah orang yang menikmati daging babi tentulah kurang daripada itu. Oleh yang demikian, mereka yang berkenaan boleh menggunakan daging babi dari sumber yang sedia ada di Malaysia.

Namun, dalam jangka panjang, perladangan babi secara kecil-kecilan wajar dihentikan. Para penternak berkenaan perlu dibimbing supaya memilih ternakan yang kurang risiko kepada alam sekitar selain ia tidak menjejaskan sensitiviti kaum dan agama di negara ini. Singapura telah pun berbuat demikian. Walaupun majoriti penduduknya orang Cina, mereka memilih untuk mengimport daging itu. Ia sudah tentu mengambil banyak pertimbangan, antaranya sudah pasti soal ancaman kepada alam sekitar.

Oleh itu adalah lebih baik jika projek bernilai jutaan ringgit untuk menternak babi itu ditukar kepada projek menternak haiwan peliharaan yang lebih baik dan memang menjadi keperluan ramai rakyat Malaysia, seperti menternak dan membiak lembu, kerbau, kambing, biri-biri, ayam, itik, ikan dan sebagainya. Risiko ladang babi, sama ada berskala besar dan moden ataupun yang diternak secara kecil-kecilan, terhadap alam sekitar amat tinggi berbanding ternakan haiwan lain. Jadi, saya percaya ternakan haiwan pilihan lain akan lebih bermutu dan lebih menguntungkan rakyat dan negara. Malahan, lebihan daripada ternakan tersebut, boleh diproses dan dieksport.

Jika ini diambil kira, ekonomi negara akan lebih meningkat. Usaha-usaha sebeginilah sepatutnya yang perlu dipertimbangkan oleh kerajaan negeri, bukan sahaja Selangor malah negeri-negeri lain juga. Sediakan tanah dan dana untuk diusahakan oleh golongan belia kita.

Jika betul-betul dihitung, Malaysia mempunyai jumlah bilangan tenaga belia yang cukup untuk membangunkan tanah terbiar atau untuk menjalankan sesuatu projek. Negara perlu mengamati perkara ini dengan lebih teliti.

Jika saranan saya ini benar-benar dilaksanakan, negara tidak akan mengalami masalah pengangguran yang serius. Pekerjaan boleh diwujudkan di kawasan kampung dengan kehadiran belia di kampung itu sendiri.

Negara patut menggalakkan rakyat, terutama belia dan remaja untuk menceburkan diri dalam bidang pertanian dan perladangan. Ini bagi memastikan bekalan makanan kita mencukupi dan tidak perlu lagi diimport dari negara luar. Itulah gunanya duit ratusan juta itu jika betul-betul hendak dilaburkan.

Saya amat berharap isu ini diambil kira secara serius oleh pihak yang terlibat.

DINA ROSA

Kuala Lumpur

Kepentingan Melayu: Pas, PKR sedia muafakat dengan UMNO

2008-04-15T00:28:00.001-07:00

Oleh AZMAN IBRAHIM

KUALA LUMPUR 14 April – Pas dan Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) bersetuju untuk bermuafakat dengan UMNO dalam mempertahankan hak dan membincangkan hala tuju orang Melayu di negara ini.

Mereka juga meminta agar permuafakatan itu dapat dibentuk dalam tempoh panjang demi memelihara kepentingan bersama.

Ketua Dewan Pemuda Pas Pusat, Salahuddin Ayub berkata, pada dasarnya beliau bersetuju dengan cadangan tersebut kerana ia membawa kebaikan untuk orang Melayu dan Islam di negara ini.

Katanya, cadangan tersebut bukan satu perkara baru kerana Pas sudah lama meminta UMNO untuk bermuafakat.

“Pas sudah lama menulis surat kepada UMNO untuk bermuafakat demi Melayu dan Islam, tetapi permintaan itu tidak pernah dilayan sebelum ini.

“Apabila UMNO sendiri mencadangkan untuk bermuafakat, saya bersetuju kerana ingin menjaga kepentingan bersama,” katanya ketika dihubungi Utusan Malaysia di sini hari ini.

Semalam, Ahli Majlis Tertinggi UMNO, Datuk Mohamad Norza Zakaria menggesa pemimpin-pemimpin UMNO, Pas dan PKR mengadakan permuafakatan bagi membincangkan hala tuju orang Melayu di negara ini.

Katanya, permuafakatan perlu agar isu-isu berkaitan orang Melayu tidak dipolitikkan.

Sementara itu, Timbalan Presiden PKR, Azmin Ali berkata, permuafakatan membawa maksud yang amat baik, tetapi ia perlu berlandaskan kepada prinsip-prinsip keadilan sesama Melayu dan kaum-kaum lain.

Katanya, pemimpin UMNO terlebih dahulu perlu jelas terhadap prinsip-prinsip kesaksamaan itu supaya mereka sendiri tidak mewujudkan jurang antara Melayu dengan Melayu atau Melayu dengan bukan Melayu.

“Kita tidak mahu permuafakatan ini menjadi kepentingan pemimpin-pemimpin tertentu seperti dalam DEB, sebaliknya ia perlu menjaga kepentingan semua pihak.

“Jika Melayu mahu terus dihormati dan terus memimpin kaum-kaum lain, maka mereka perlu bersikap adil sesama sendiri dan juga kepada kaum-kaum lain,” katanya.

Posted by hasmy at 11:52 AM 0 comments

How come MB Perak say like that, it's just....

2008-04-15T00:26:00.000-07:00

Don’t get upset over Nizar’s mistake, Karpal urges Sikhs

PENANG: DAP chairman Karpal Singh has come to the rescue of Perak Mentri Besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, saying he referred to Sikhs as Bengalis “in ignorance.”

Urging the Sikh community “not to get upset”, Karpal Singh said that although Sikhs and Bengalis were different, it was a very “trivial” matter.

“In Malaysia, both are commonly referred to as the same, so there is no need to be offended. After all, a rose would smell as sweet by any other name,” he said after attending Vaisakhi prayers at the Gurdwara Sahib yesterday.

However, Khalsa Dharmic Jatha Gurdwara vice-president Baljit Singh disagreed.

“That very utterance has made the Sikhs a laughing stock of other communities. How can we expect society to know the difference between the two communities when the leaders themselves cannot?” he said, adding that Nizar owed Sikhs an apology.

Nizar, who made the reference at a PAS function in Ipoh on Sunday, later admitted his mistake.

In Malaysia, Sikhs have been mistakenly referred to as Bengalis for decades.

DAP bantah kenyataan Nik Aziz

2008-04-14T23:19:00.000-07:00

Oleh suffian abu bakar

MUAR 14 April - Bibit-bibit perpecahan gabungan pakatan pembangkang semakin 'kelihatan' apabila DAP hari ini membidas sikap pemimpin Pas yang mendakwa pakatan tersebut akan menerima undang-undang Islam termasuk hukum hudud.

Ahli Parlimen Puchong, Gobind Singh Deo berkata, DAP kesal dengan kenyataan Mursyidul Am Pas, Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat bahawa pakatan itu akan menerima undang-undang Islam yang diketengahkan oleh Pas kerana ia tidak berasas sama sekali.

Sebaliknya, Setiausaha Biro Perundangan DAP itu berkata, DAP tetap dengan pendirian bahawa mereka tetap menolak kerajaan Islam yang dibawa oleh Pas dan akan terus berpegang kepada prinsip negara sekular.

"Kenyataan yang dibuat oleh Menteri Besar Kelantan itu tidak menggambarkan pendirian semua ahli pakatan pembangkang kerana kami tidak menyokong langkah kerajaan negeri itu melaksanakan undang-undang Islam.

"Sebaliknya, DAP ingin mempersoalkan bahawa Pas perlu melaksanakan terlebih dulu manifesto negara kebajikan yang diumumkan sebelum pilihan raya umum lalu sehingga semua pengundi DAP memilih calon mereka," katanya pada sidang akhbar di sini hari ini.

Gobind Singh yang merupakan anak Pengerusi DAP, Karpal Singh berkata demikian sebagai mengulas laporan sebuah akhbar berbahasa Cina hari ini yang menyebut, Nik Abdul Aziz dalam satu wawancara dengan akhbar itu berkata, pakatan pembangkang akan menerima negara Islam yang ditubuhkan oleh Pas.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), DAP dan Pas menolak mana-mana parti di kalangan mereka untuk menjadi parti tunjang dalam pakatan pembangkang yang kini menguasai lima negeri pada pilihan raya umum lalu.

Ketiga-tiga parti pembangkang juga tidak mahu pakatan tersebut dijadikan medan untuk mana-mana pihak memperjuangkan ideologi persendirian.

Dalam satu kenyataan bersama baru-baru ini, pakatan pembangkang menyatakan dasar-dasar mereka adalah berpaksikan kepada perkara-perkara yang dipersetujui dan disepakati pemimpin tertinggi parti-parti berkenaan.

Sehubungan itu, kata Gobind Singh, DAP akan mengadakan pertemuan dengan pemimpin Pas itu bagi membincangkan isu-isu berkaitan yang boleh menjejaskan pakatan tersebut.

Dalam perkembangan berkaitan, beliau menafikan khidmat pesanan ringkas (SMS) yang tersebar sejak kebelakangan ini bahawa parti itu memperuntukkan RM85 juta bagi 'membeli' dua wakil rakyat untuk melompat parti.

Katanya, DAP tidak menyokong sebarang usaha membeli wakil rakyat dan telah membuat laporan polis berhubungan penyebaran SMS tersebut.

Beliau bagaimanapun tidak menyatakan dengan terperinci identiti dua wakil rakyat yang cuba dibeli itu serta dari negeri mana.

Katanya, setiap wakil rakyat yang memenangi pilihan raya dipilih oleh rakyat yang menyokong parti itu dan tindakan melompat parti itu tidak pernah didokong oleh DAP.