I refer to the Malaysiakini report Dr M warns of throwing money at food problem .

I agree with Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s comment that increasing the subsidy amount for government price-controlled items (petrol, rice, sugar, cooking oil, etc) is not a wise move to counter inflation or help the people. If you block the country’s development funds and channel them to subsidising these necessities, sooner or later you will hit a dead end.

If a country stops or delays its funding for progress, much more damage will occur. Investors will move out having lost their confidence, there will be no more an inflow of funds, the country will get poorer.

You are actually hurting the economy. If the economy is crippled, then where will we find funds to subsidise our basic needs?

Our nation must continue to progress and excel. Development projects must continue in a controlled manner. We must solve the root of the problem - not cover it up or patch it over. What is the purpose of subsidy if most of the funds go into the pockets of corrupted and greedy business people.

If we have not enough rice, then we should plant more rice and let the farmers sell directly to the people. Not through the middle-man that sells it at high price for the sake of profit-taking.

If there is not enough oil or the price is too high, we should stop exporting it or channel back Petronas’ profits back to the people. It is our oil - it does not belong to us not Petronas or their shareholders.

Recently, I heard news that our subsidised oil is being stolen and sold to other countries by our own high-profile and government-linked businessmen. These people must be stopped and brought to justice.

And what is the use of becoming a member of Opec? They’re a bunch of greedy businessmen out to exploit the people. Their countries are rich in oil but we are not. We have limited supply. It is a disadvantage for us to join them..

The world should not trade in food and commodities as this will lead to hunger and poverty for the people. Malaysia is rich with its natural resources. We have everything and we can be a self-sufficient country without relying on or being exposed to the global market situation.

We have the ability to protect ourselves. It is just a matter of how our leaders manage. Many aspects of our country failed because of the lack of integrity, poor or weak management and of course, the endemic corruption.