Selamat datang ke Malaysia baru

Aku dah lama tak memaki orang tapi hari ni aku dah buat dosa banyak kali bila memaki Pak Lah berulang kali bila terfikirkan pasal harga petrol naik. *sekarang pun tengah maki lagi*

".....new price for petrol is RM2.70 a litre."

Tak tau apa yang dia fikirkan? Atau mungkin ada muslihat lain dari puak-puak yang masih kelaparan untuk busungkan perut masing-masing. Mereka semua bijak-bijak, lepasan universiti terkemuka dalam dan luar negara serta memegang jawatan tinggi, pastinya mereka fikirkan yang terbaik. Tetapi adakah ianya yang terbaik untuk rakyat atau untuk puak-puak perut busung tadi?

Jadi sekarang petrol dah naik kepada RM2.70 seliter. Ini bermakna aku yang selalu isi petrol RM30 (lebih kurang 15liter) terpaksa tambah RM10 lagi menjadi RM40 kalau nak isi jumlah liter yang sama. Seminggu isi dua kali, itupun dari rumah di Putra Height ke pejabat di USJ1 dan pusing-pusing keliling Subang, belum lagi ke kawasan luar. 2 kali isi seminggu bersamaan RM20. Untuk sebulan tambahan RM80. Mungkin tak banyak bagi sesetengah orang tetapi satu beban yang besar bagi aku. *menyumpah lagi*.

"Abdullah also announced a RM625 annual cash rebate per vehicle, for owners of private vehicles with engine capacities of up to 2,000cc, as well as pickup trucks and jeeps with engine capacities of up to 2,500cc."

Ada yang kata kerajaan dah bagi subsidi RM625 setahun, berbaloi tu. RM625? Dibahagi 12 bulan bersamaan lebih kurang RM52. Berbaloi ke? Jika kerajaan dapat ambik balik RM30 dari seorang maka berapa kerajaan jimat dari berjuta pengguna kereta? Itu kalau kira berdasarkan jumlah kenderaan dan berdasarkan penggunaan petrol aku yang tak seberapa.

Cuba kita tengok jumlah subsidi *berdasarkan kepada artikel The Edge di bawah*.

"Petrol subsidy is expected to cost taxpayers RM56 billion this year..."

RM56billion setahun? Dan ianya berdasarkan kepada harga minyak sekarang iaitu RM455 setong (USD140). Kita boleh andaikan harga ini akan turun kerana harga sekarang sudah melampau tinggi. Oleh itu subsidi ini pasti akan berkurangan.

Kembali kepada jumlah subsidi berbanding jumlah kenderaan, RM56,000,000,000 dibahagi kepada RM625 (untuk satu kenderaan) adalah bersamaan 89,600,000 juta kenderaan? Dan ianya adalah kenderaan dibawah 2,000cc sahaja? Jika dikira kenderaan dengan kapasiti 2,000cc ke atas yang hanya menerima RM200 serta motosikal pasti jumlah ini akan lebih tinggi. 89,600,000 kenderaan di Malaysia dengan jumlah rakyat hanya 27 juta (termasuk kanak-kanak dan orang tua yang tak mampu bawak kereta dan orang yang tak ada lesen dan yang tak mampu beli kereta)? Imposibel.... Jadi ke mana perginya lebihan wang subsidi ini?

Bertambah kelakar apabila Datuk Shahrir Samad menyatakan dia pun tak tau samada skim ini akan kekal atau tidak.

"However, it is unclear whether the scheme would be a temporary measure until a firmer plan was finalised by August, as suggested by Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad."

Apa yang diorang ni fikirkan? Ish...., diorang ni kan bijak pandai.

"....adding that savings from the petrol subsidy would be channelled towards food security and food production."

Pandai betul diorang ni cari alasan. *maki lagi, maaf ye*. Tapi pandai untuk mengisi busung masing-masing. Bijaknya kurang. Aku ni memang la bodoh, tapi masih boleh berfikir. Bukankah hara petrol ini memainkan peranan penting dalam menentukan harga pasaran produk dan perkhidmatan, apa sahaja. Kerana setiap produk perlu diproses, perlu dibawa ke sana-sini (dari bahan mentah dibawa ke kilang untuk proses kemudian dibawa ke tempat jualan, *jika diambil cara paling mudah*) makanya harga produk dipasaran juga akan naik.

Menaikkan harga petrol sebegitu tinggi samalah seperti menjatuhkan sebutir bom atom yang mana kesannya berangkaian. Yang sakitnya bukan makhluk yang menggugurkan bom tetapi manusia yang terkena tempiasnya. *maki lagi*.

Bila harga petrol naik, harga barang naik, harga perkhidmatan naik, pastinya pendapatan sesebuah syarikat juga akan naik, maka kemungkinan untuk kerajaan menikmati pendapatan yang lebih dari cukai tetap ada. *untung lagi, bijak-bijak*.

Mungkin niat mereka baik *mungkin sahaja, tetapi dapat dirasa kemungkinan itu kecil sangat* nak bantu rakyat. Tapi apakah kaedah dan perlaksanaannya mencapai maksud?

Jika kita lihat siapakah yang akan menikmati keuntungan daripada skim subsidi yang baru ini, pastinya ianya adalah golongan mewah. Memang benar golongan mewah, *yang disini ditafsirkan sebagai mereka yang memiliki kenderaan melebihi 2,000cc (sempit betul fikiran diorang ni)* hanya diberi subsidi RM200. Namun apakah kenaikan 40% ini ditanggung oleh mereka, atau ditanggung oleh rakyat? Jika difikir balik oleh otak yang dungu ini, pastinya oleh rakyat kerana golongan mewah ini *yang hanya beberapa kerat sahaja* menikmati subsidi petrol daripada syarikat atau badan-badan kerajaan atau institusi-institusi yang mereka wakili. Jika ianya sebuah syarikat maka kos ini akan disalurkan kepada rakyat melalui kenaikan harga barang dan sebagainya. Jika mereka ini kakitangan kerajaan, pastinya secara terus rakyat yang tanggung mereka.

Mungkin *mungkin sahaja* masa perbincangan itu ada yang bertanya bagaimana pula dengan mereka yang berpendapatan sederhana, golongan pertengahan, tetapi mempunyai dua buah kereta, satu si isteri pakai satu lagi si suami. Dan mungkin juga ada yang menjawab, "kalau tak mampu pakai satu kereta cukup lah." *mungkin sahaja*.

Dan mungkin juga ada yang bertanya, "bagaimana pula yang memiliki hanya satu kereta tetapi belanja bulanan dia cukup-cukup sahaja?" Mungkin ada yang menjawab, "kalau tak mampu, ubahlah gaya hidup, pakailah kenderaan awam."

Sungguh mudah bagi jawapan.

Tetapi kenyataannya mereka membina satu ruang yang sangat besar di antara golongan miskin (yang pastinya tiada kenderaan, tetapi masih perlu menanggung kos sara hidup semakin tinggi), golongan pertengahan (yang ada kereta tetapi cukup-cukup belanja) dengan golongan kaya (yang mampu pakai kereta mewah, yang duitnya tercuit sikit sahaja apabila harga barang naik).

Selamat datang ke Malaysia baru. Malaysia yang membina kastanya yang tersendiri.

(silalah baca artikel-artikel yang dipetik di bawah)

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Wednesday June 4, 2008 MYT 7:33:41 PM - The Star Online

Petrol to cost RM2.70 from midnight

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Wednesday announced price hikes for petrol, diesel and electricity.

He said the new price for petrol is RM2.70 a litre, effective midnight tonight. The price goes up by 78sen from the current RM1.92, a hike of 40%.

Abdullah also announced that the price of diesel would be increased by RM1 from RM1.58 to RM2.58.

He also said that Tenaga Nasional Bhd would be raising electricity rates by 18% for homes and 26% for business users.

The announcements are part of the new fuel subsidy plan.

Abdullah also announced a RM625 annual cash rebate per vehicle, for owners of private vehicles with engine capacities of up to 2,000cc, as well as pickup trucks and jeeps with engine capacities of up to 2,500cc.

Owners of private motorcycles with engine capacities of up to 250cc will receive RM150.

Payment will be made via Money Order upon renewal of road tax, from July 1.

For owners of private vehicles with engine capacities exceeding 2000cc, road tax will be reduced by RM200.

Owners of private motorcycles with engine capacities above 250 cc will get RM50 reduction in road tax.

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03-06-2008: Govt to unveil new fuel subsidy scheme tomorrow - The Edge Online
by Pauline Puah & Sharon Tan
Email us your feedback at fd@bizedge.com

KUALA LUMPUR: The government will announce a restructured fuel subsidy scheme tomorrow, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday.

However, it is unclear whether the scheme would be a temporary measure until a firmer plan was finalised by August, as suggested by Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad.

A comprehensive revamp of the country’s fuel subsidy scheme could also include a review of subsidies for power generators, including independent power producers, and ultimately the tariffs for consumers.

“The announcement will definitely come out on Wednesday. Tomorrow (Tuesday), we (Cabinet Committee on Inflation) are finalising quite a number of proposals,” he told a press conference after chairing the eight National SME Development Council meeting at Bank Negara here.

Abdullah, who is also the Finance Minister, said the new scheme would take effect immediately. “Most of them (the proposals), we want them to be effective immediately. If not, there will be a lot of speculation,” he said.

Asked about Shahrir’s announcement earlier that there might be a fuel price hike in August, Abdullah said: “He (Shahrir) said it might be. Anyway, as far as subsidy or anything to do with oil, the final decision will only be made on Wednesday.”

In an immediate response to The Edge Financial Daily , Shahrir said tomorrow’s announcement would be on temporary measures before the permanent scheme took effect in August.

Earlier, speaking at a press conference at the parliament lobby yesterday, Shahrir said Malaysians should brace themselves for an increase in petrol prices in August but the lower-income groups could expect the increase to be cushioned.

“The petrol prices will increase. The idea is August this year when the subsidy system is restructured. The prices will rise with the proviso that Malaysians would still enjoy the subsidies on the basis of not on usage but on need.

“We have to be prepared for certain changes that would happen. There may be new changes,” he said, adding that a few proposals had been forwarded to the Ministry of Finance for its decisions.

“At the moment, the petrol subsidy is given on the basis of usage. The more you use, the more subsidy you get. That does not sound like a subsidy system. We would like to have a subsidy system that is based on need,” said Shahrir.

Asked if Malaysians were ready for the adjustments, Shahrir said the petrol subsidy issue would not have been a big burden for the government had it not been for the increase in both prices of petrol and food.

“The price of oil has gone up many times over since subsidy was introduced. Now it’s touching US$140 (RM455) in the world market. The second factor is the issue of food prices.

“The increase in food prices worldwide has put this issue of subsidy of petrol and diesel into another dimension,” he said, adding that savings from the petrol subsidy would be channelled towards food security and food production.

Petrol subsidy is expected to cost taxpayers RM56 billion this year while only RM4 billion had been allocated under the food security policy. The government subsidises about RM2 for each litre of petrol.

Shahrir also said the current regulation of restricting foreign vehicles to purchase petrol outside the 50km radius from the borders was only a stop-gap measure until the fuel subsidy management was established.

About 493 petrol stations at the northern and southern borders are affected. The ruling has already taken place in the northern borders and will come into force on June 9 in the southern entry point. The ruling, however, would not affect motorcycles.