Oil Prices: UMNO Deflecting Criticism to PETRONAS

SALUTE TO PETRONAS of whom without them and their tireless antics this beloved country of ours would be left to rot on the side of Jalan Raja Bot.

In the Rakyat's eagerness to find the seemingly unidentifiable culprit we see efforts being undertaken to deflect the issue and a good number of the Rakyat - be they from the ruling party or the opposition - are convinced that PETRONAS is to be blamed for the single highest petrol fuel price rise anywhere in the world.

Boycotts were arranged and debates were ensued, all demanding PETRONAS to either give up their lifestyle as kings (which left many PETRONAS employees confused) or to reveal detailed accounts. So much so that Tan Sri Hassan Merican himself felt compelled to come forward in his effort to calm the situation.

Like it or not, these actions are demotivating and destroying the very people that have worked so hard to turn PETRONAS from a RM10 million company at its inception to a multi-hundred-billion megacompany with tens of thousands of employees.

In MalaysiaKini, the President of PETRONAS have explained that PETRONAS is governed under the Petroleum Development Act of 1974. Since then a total of RM570 billion in profits were gained and from that RM336 billion (almost 60%) were paid to the government. The rest were used as revolving capital for investment purposes, which would translate into bigger profit hauls for the country in the future.

Now, PETRONAS have proven that they are adept at investing. Personalities such as Allahyarham Tan Sri Azizan and Tan Sri Hassan Merican himself are people who should be applauded by the Rakyat and not victimised. The question should be pointed at that government which had ruled Malaysia since 1975 (the date PETRONAS first contributed to the government's coffers) namely the BARISAN NASIONAL. The question is why are we targetting PETRONAS? why are we so ANGRY with PETRONAS? shouldn't we bear our bayonets to the correct culprit (in Malay: Keparat)?

Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin, in his vain efforts to revive a flagging political career, demanded PETRONAS to reveal details of its accounts. No doubt to insinuate the bailout of Konsortium Perkapalan Berhad against Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. Even if this were to be the case, it shows (among many examples) the utter lack of respect and disregard the BN government have shown towards PETRONAS and further amplifying in earnest the blatant misuse of moneys received from PETRONAS by the BN Government. Mega Projects were approved which led to richer UMNOPuteras and BN Cronies but to the detriment of the majority Rakyat.

How did the BN government administer their monies? one needs only to look at the Financial Report of Selangor and Perak where the annual allocation for all representatives were finished barely 3 months into the new year - all for the purchase of T-Shirts, appointing contractors and celebrations.

We should be objective and be wise enough to detect the actual culprit from the innocent. For me, the age-old conundrum that BN is the only experienced body to administer Malaysia has, in terms of managing PETRONAS, effectively gone down the drain.

AMIR HAMZAH BIN AMHA

http://puterabatu.blogspot.com/

Demo terbesar bantah harga minyak

Pemuda Pakatan Rakyat akan mengadakan perarakan besar-besaran sejauh hampir dua kilometer Jumaat bagi membantah kenaikan mendadak harga minyak. Angkatan Muda Keadilan (AMK) bersama Pemuda PAS dan DAP akan bergerak dari masjid Kampung Baru ke Suria KLCC selepas solat 13 Jun ini.

Perhimpunan ini dipercayai yang terbesar pernah dianjurkan oleh parti-parti pembangkang selepas pengumuman kenaikan harga minyak secara mendadak Rabu lalu.

Dalam kenyataannya hari ini, AMK menggesa semua ahli Pemuda Pakatan dari seluruh negara menghadirinya.Sejak minggu, beberapa demonstrasi kecil diadakan di beberapa lokasi seluruh negara, antaranya di Kuching, Ipoh, Sungai Petani, Pulau Pinang dan Kuala Lumpur.

Setiausaha AMK Zulfikar Ali Ariffin menganggarkan kira-kira 3,000 orang akan hadir Jumaat ini bersama ketua-ketua pergerakan Pemuda Pakatan, Salahuddin Ayub dan Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin. Belum dapat dipastikan ketua Pemuda DAP Nga Kor Ming akan menyertai, bagaimanapun wakil Pemuda parti dipercayai turut serta.Menurut Zulfikar, AMK juga meminta setiap negeri agar menghantar wakil bagi menyertai perhimpunan itu nanti.

Pergerakan itu akan bermesyuarat malam ini bersama-sama wakil Pemuda PAS dan DAP berhubung penganjuran demonstrasi tersebut, tambahnya.

Mereka juga akan membincangkan bagaimana untuk memobilasi rakyat dan penyokong yang turut serta dalam perhimpunan besar-besaran pada 12 Julai nanti yang dianjurkan oleh Gabungan Anti Inflasi (Protes). "13 Jun adalah titik tolak untuk rakyat turun sama-sama pada 12 Julai nanti," kata Zulfikar.

Beliau berkata AMK meminta kerjasama polis dan memberi jaminan perarakan itu akan berlangsung secara aman.Penyelaras Protes Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli, yang juga bendahari PAS, berkata gabungan itu akan mengumpul jumlah peserta demonstrasi yang lebih besar daripada anjuran Gabungan Pilihanraya Bersih dan Adil (Bersih) November lepas.Kira-kira 40,000 menyertai perhimpunan tahun lalu bagi menuntut empat perkara ke arah pilihanraya bebas, termasuk penggunaan dakwat kekal dan pemansuhan undi pos.Sementara itu, AMK Wilayah Persekutuan akan meneruskan demonstrasi itu pada jam 5 petang Jumaat di masjid jamek Jalan Tun Perak.

Pergerakan itu telah memutuskan program bantahan dalam mesyuaratnya malam tadi, kata naib ketua AMK Wilayah, Rozan Azen Mat Rasip. Keputusan ini akan dibentangkan dalam mesyuarat pusat AMK malam ini, tambahnya.

(Ihsan MalaysiaKini)

HELP US!

As a voter I had certain expectations in mind for those who I had voted for. I would like my government to assist us, protect and defend us. Not only from external threats but also domestic. I want my government to be better and brighter than the regular man on a Clapham Omnibus, to be able to solve problems and formulate solutions which would benefit me - a regular Malaysian. However this table explains otherwise:

As always, there will be answers deflecting criticism. But as of today, the answers have been to blame the increase in the price of oil prices worldwide. As a net exporter and what I understand by the word 'net', Malaysia should have been able to cater for the domestic fuel demands and still have leftovers for export. From this, Malaysia decided to sell its high quality fuel (due to low sulfur content) and import low quality fuel from other countries including from the Middle East (I don't know what our environmental policies are!!) to allow the government extra profits. The question is, after that episode we are left to the 'global fuel market forces' where we cannot ignore the rise in fuel prices when we 're-import'.

You know what? If this government had an ounce of consideration for the welfare of its people, I would rather have our oils not being sold and instead cater for the local demands. It could also score us some points for being environmentally friendly!

But that is oil. The average Malaysian bear the daily burden not only of oil but other essential items such as foods, low wages, crippling taxes and toll charges, prices based on monopoly, education costs, daycare costs (as more Malaysian couples have to resort to both husband and wife working) as well as others.

Let us see at the price of automobiles, After the price hike, I have looked at the prices of cars between three countries namely Thailand, Indonesia and Thailand. Let us see how Malaysian first hand cars cost in relation to the other countries. The results speak for themselves. Res Ipsa Loquitur.

From the appended table we can see that among 3 countries Malaysia's price is WAY above normal. For a Toyota Vios in Thailand (whom TV3 shows almost everyday filling their Petrol in Rantau Panjang) it is 58% more expensive in Malaysia and a Toyota Yaris in Malaysia is 47% more expensive than the same model in Indonesia.

Malaysia's refusal to accede to the demands of the Free Trade arrangements between ASEAN where Malaysia would have to agree to a 0% to 5% import tax on foreign automobiles, have led to this to happen. Since Pak Lah has mentioned that no further protection would be given to PROTON, could Malaysians have cheaper cars? I say 'cars' because when the foreign cars come cheap, the local automobile industry would have to follow suit or else suffer.

Use of public transportation you say? Why don't the Transport Minister come and check them out for themselves and not just the spanking new coaches used to officiate events!! Just look at the LRT and KTM Komuter systems, delays upon delays with minimum coaches. I have never seen an LRT train that stretches all the way from the front to the back of any station! At the most it would reach three-quarters of the stations platform!

The increase in the price of electricity is also another problem. In Malaysia, where Tenaga Nasional and a host of other Independent Power Producers generate and supply electricity, the prices were raised due to increase in fuel prices. Shouldn't the government nationalise the IPP if they seem to burden the general Malaysian public?

Please remember, the people feel these increases en bloc. They don't address it as a separate items. Our heads are getting bombarded again and again. We choose our representatives in order for them to HELP US, not for us to UNDERSTAND them time and time again!

Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim has reiterated his promise to lower the price of petrol, and you know what? I BELIEVE HIM! come September 16 2008 - Malaysians cannot wait for a new government to take over from these inconsiderate nincompoops!

Amir Hamzah bin Amha

http://puterabatu.blogspot.com/

Rakyat Dibebankan Dengan Kenaikan Keterlaluan!

Rakyat pastinya dirundung kehidupan rumit. Bermula dari harga minyak, menjalar ke bil eletrik, tertekan parah dengan kos pengangkutan dan harga barang keperluan lainnya.

Arakian subsidi minyak dikurangkan, tetapi persoalannya keuntungan Petronas yang jenuh melimpah tertiris dan bocor kemana? Tidak ada pertanggungjawaban waima kepada Parlimen sekalipun. Yang arif mengenai kedudukan kewangan Petronas hanya Perdana Menteri dan yang terserlah adalah Projek mega dan Koridor!

Rakyat bukan sahaja dinafikan maklumat malah limpahan dan habuan dari khazanah utama negara tidak dirasakan. Kemanfaatannya adalah buat keluarga dan kroni yang sekonyong-konyong dianugerah kontrak dan projek.

Inilah yang kami sering ungkapkan sebagai pengurusan ekonomi yang lembab dan tidak bertanggungjawab!

Amalan hidup pimpinan negara terus boros, pembaziran dan rasuah terus berleluasa.
Justeru itu kami membantah keras dasar Kerajaan UMNO-BN yang mengabaikan tanggungjawab dan membebankan rakyat. Setelah gagal mengurus ekonomi dan menjamin keselesaan hidup rakyat, pimpinan UMNO-BN seharusnya berundur!

Saya ulangi pendirian saya dan Pakatan Rakyat untuk menurunkan harga minyak dan meletakkan asas ekonomi manusiawi. Dasar tersebut harus menjurus kapada pertumbuhan segar dan pantas, namun tetap prihatin terhadap kehidupan rakyat.

DATO' SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM