I refer to the Malaysiakini report MAS to cut costs as oil price rises .

Rumour is that MAS has been getting some RM400 million in subsidy by the government to run their Paris, Los Angeles, and New York routes (makes sense, after all, how can MAS possibly be flying for US$483 Singapore-New York in an age where the all-time high oil price has driven tens of airlines worldwide into bankruptcy and forced others to raise prices?)

And this subsidy has been kept secret from the public. I would like to know where the government gets the authority to use our hard-earned money to subsidise a poorly-managed company that is losing tons of money, when I can easily hop on an alternative airline to go to the same destinations?

After all, that taxpayers’ money could be better spent on helping the country's poor at a time of rising food prices, rather than supporting some inefficiently-run company that deserves to go bankrupt but survives just because of its relationship with the government?

The government should remember that it is we, the people, who earned this money and paid the taxes. They are not meant to be used for ‘selective subsidies’ to benefit those with whom they have close relationships.