I refer to the Malaysiakini report PI retracts stunning statutory declaration .

Bala must be living in hell right now. And who can blame him. We know what has happened to those who dare speak against politicians in high office. Actually, he should count himself lucky to be still alive although he must be afraid of his own shadow now. Wondering whether it is his or the police’s.

I, who am still trying to survive the whirlpool impact of BN's generous 78 sen oil price hike 'subsidy', couldn't be bothered with this statutory declaration (SD). Must I? Why, when millions of ordinary Malaysians like me were handed with an economic crisis arising from premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's generous subsidy.

You see, he has been sleeping on the job most of the time that he forgot the domino effect of the oil price hike. His half-past-six government overlooked the fact that it would automatically jack up prices for food and transport among others. And poor us have to rework our budget to make ends meet.

That's when the sleepy government suggested part time work to change our lifestyles. Never mind that the five-day a week job was initially meant to give employees more time to spend with their families. Ah yes, the rebate. And I am supposed to be eternally grateful for that?

How come I have to juggle two jobs now to maintain my modest lifestyle? Last I checked, the corporate sector (read BN-related cronies) - especially the owners of the independent power producers (IPPs) - are the ones laughing all the way to the bank despite the 78 sen hike.

Weren't we informed that out of the RM57 billion oil subsidy, some RM21 billion went to the IPPs alone!

When Bala issued his first SD, I just dismissed them as another soap-opera. Say, am I subject to sedition for mentioning Najib's name alongside the Mongolian?

I can't remember much what Najib has done for the country and the rakyat since occupying high office. Except that the Arabian tale of Hikayat 1001 Malam pales in comparison when compared to Najib's exploits.

These gripping soap operas that beat Hollywood productions anytime have actually benefitted the government to a certain extent. They divert attention from the real problems faced by the rakyat. Or so the Abdullah regime thinks.

Hey, for as long as I have to work at two jobs and many ordinary Malaysians have to tighten our belts now, don't expect us to forget hat you saddled us with the oil price hike.

This soap opera involving Najib, Altantuya, PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, and Abdullah and his cabinet members (or not forgetting the equally important supporting cast, the Attorney- General Abdul Gani Patail and the police chief Musa Hassan), is drowning the country's economy.

Is anybody in the government still working by the way to address the rakyat ’s concerns. These include the inflation, the high cost of living, the rising unemployment and crime, the rotten judiciary and ‘uncivil’ servants (read PDRM), the illegal immigrant, the corruption, the poverty, social ills etc.

Or have all these taken a backseat because the most heinous crime here is sodomy? Oh yes, the original subject. Now Bala said he was under duress to affirm the first SD..

You see, Bala, ordinary Malaysians like me who are stung badly by the BN's 78 sen hornet, couldn't care less about what's going on behind the extramarital doors of some politicians.

Not when we are struggling very hard to keep our heads above water after being thrown in the BN 78 sen ‘generous subsidy’ whirlpool.

But in between trying to gasp for air, your second SD actually made me (and many skeptics like me) wonder whether you are actually telling the truth in your first SD.

I really would have dismissed the first SD as a diversion on Saiful Bukhari's sensational (a la Hollywood) disclosure of his 'gay tryst' with Anwar. I really would but now, I wonder.

And if you change your mind about the second SD, how do you plead, may I ask?

To the politicians, aren't you people supposed to go back to the rakyat for a new mandate every five years (or less). How do you think we would vote this time?

Now, get of your rears and get on with the business of governance. Me and the ordinary rakyat are really angry and you don't like us when we get really angry.