‘The urgent matter is to address the exorbitant increases in daily necessities after the petrol price increase. These prices have not come down or been brought down.'
KSN: There is no point in the government getting some political mileage in bringing down the petrol price because it is the people's legitimate right.
I believe that the world prices for oil is now less than what it was when the government increased the prices from RM1.92. The current prices should therefore be less than that.
The more important and urgent matter is to address the exorbitant increases in daily necessities after the petrol price increase. These prices have not come down or been brought down.
There is no need for me to further emphasise how badly these price increases have affected the daily living standards of the people especially those in the lower and middle income groups.
Other than begging and pleading with businesses to bring down prices and photo-shoots taken in supermarkets, what concrete enforcement measures are being taken to check profiteering by unscrupulous businesses?
This is among the tangible measures the public would likes to see done. Get on with it. Gone are the days the people will accept anything else or less.
The government, in other words, cannot take us for a ride anymore or again. Understand, BN?
Adcin: You know there is something fishy going on when the price of our petrol falls in equal amounts of 15 cents.
Especially when global prices of crude oil are falling exponentially or something to that effect. Shahrir now says that there is a small profit for the government when petrol is sold at current prices.
And so now instead of subsidising us, the government is making money from us.
Remember the justification for raising the price not too long ago? Well, now they are talking of a ceiling or should I say a basement price for petrol even if prices of crude oil keep coming down.
Shahrir, do you not realise how incredibly clueless you sound every time you open your mouth to talk about price increases and decreases?
Ganesh: Malaysians are paying too much for petrol. Even after the recent reduction, we are actually paying RM1 more per litre than what we are supposed to and this money goes into the government's pocket.
One barrel of crude oil can produce of 159 litres of petrol. The price of US$55 per barrel should be multiplied with 3.5 being the exchange rate of the US dollar to Ringgit Malaysia.
The total should then be divided with 159 litres. Thus, US$56 x 3.5 = RM196 divided 159 litres = RM1.23 per litre.
The government has informed us that we are receiving a subsidy of 30 sen per litre. So, RM1.23 per litre - 30 sen = 93 sen per litre. But Malaysians are paying RM2 per litre! (the new price after the Nov 17 reduction)
By right, Malaysians should be paying 93 sen per litre and not RM2 per litre. The reduction given by the government does not make any sense at all and does not correspond to the reduction in price of crude oil per barrel.
On MCA president right to 'cold storage' Soi Lek
Chng Meng Kung: With regards the above letter, I have one issue with the writer whom I believe is currently the legal adviser to MCA Negri Sembilan.
The writer is right to make the stand that a person with an immoral record has no justification to public office.
My question is: ‘What is a righteous man like him doing in an unrighteous party and coalition?'
If you want to throw stones, don't live in a glasshouse.
On Fake degree allegation 'not true'
N Tazetta: It is laughable that Wan Junaidi repudiates this claim of getting a doctorate degree from one unaccredited university by saying he actually got it from unaccredited university.
The Southern California University for Professional Studies (now known as California Southern University) should not be confused with the prestigious, like-named, University of Southern California.
Like the American Northeastate University, Southern Calif. University is also not an accredited university.
It is sad that our politicians are resorting to these degree mills to gain some credibility. Fortunately, we are smart enough to know that nowadays, money can buy anything.
And showing all the paperwork from the university does not make the doctoral degree any less ‘fake' either
On Axed UM VC says its because she's a woman
Yum: I couldn't believe my eyes when I read she said something about ‘something between the legs'!
No wonder Universiti Malaya graduates nowadays seem to have lost their cachet among employers, though we can't really blame her totally.
The rot started years ago after Ungku Aziz left.
Dr V Nedu: What is Rafiah up to? She is uttering purely discriminatory statements. My sincere advice to the ex-VC is to please behave yourself and stop using obscene words.
It shows that you are not up to the mark. Just because you have that two things on your chest, it 's doesn't mean you are more eligible than those guys who have that thing between their legs.
We are moving ahead and bypassing discrimination but people like you are bringing us back to the pre-colonial era.
Prof Dr Hashim Yaacob behaved well when his contract was not renewed. Why are you shouting? Are you still in the cocoon? Look at the number of teachers, headmistresses, university and university lecturers.
Females outnumbered males. I don't think Malaysia is that bad to practise gender discrimination. In the first place, you were out of the teaching institution for many years before you were appointed as the VC to replace Hashim.
He is well qualified in comparison to you. Is that what you called gender bias? Stop criticising your own boss. It is very wrong for you to expose the political involvement etc.
We all know about it. In fact, your appointment as VC is due to political involvement as well. The whole education system is corrupt and we should embark on a cleaning process.
On A night to mark 'change in the making'
Ellison ML: I have been following with great interest the successes of Pakatan Rakyat thus far. I suggest the name for coalition be Pakatan Kebebasan Rakyat Malaysia.
To win any election, a party should prepare itself way ahead and not at the last moment.
For instance, for the next state elections in Sarawak, campaigning and reawakening should be done now.
You should have a strong team in each division to explain to the people your intentions and what should have been done by now after enjoying independence for almost half-a-century.
On Rais hopeful of release of two M'sians in Guantanamo
Alex C: So, the government is calling for the release of these two held in Guantanamo. They are crying foul over these Americans even though their own iconic Twin Towers was reduced to rubble by terrorists.
However, is our 'holier than thou' ISA any better? Rais claims that Americans are worse because no charges have been brought against the two.
So do unfounded claims such as Hindraf being linked to the Tamil Tigers make the ISA sound more legit? To date, there is no proof at all.
What about RPK or the purported ‘safety' of the Sin Chew reporter arrested under ISA? The home minister can claim anything to be racially sensitive to put anyone behind bars. So why can't the Americans?
We don't care if you in Umno want to shoot yourself in the leg when making comments as the credibility that you carry weighs only with your cronies who hound you for contracts, no more.
I have never seen any other government that always retracts their statements or blame it on the media except in Malaysia. So before you guys make any more statement, do please think first.
On Do not blame Malays for our 'tongkat'
My View: The conclusion I reached after reading all the letters on this issue is that we Malaysians are quick to blame each other.
Instead of learning why the Americans can elect a president not according to skin colour, some writers are quick to blame non-Malays for not being able to speak BM properly.
I am curious. If non-Malays can speak BM fluently, will this mean that there will be a race called Bangsa Malaysia ? Will there be no more special rights accorded to the Malays?
Will the harping on Ketuanan Melayu stop there for good?
To me, the culmination of one race or civilisation takes thousands of years and through natural forces that emphasise on equality and fair play.
So long as these elements are not there in Malaysia, Bangsa Malaysia is forever a dream. I see all these 'blaming' business as unfortunate and unproductive.
They are all due to 'suspicions' that resulted from unfair practices by our government. Please don't find excuses to continue with your tongkat .
On PAS slams protests over lesbian sex fatwa
Takeda Shingen: This only goes to show the narrow-minded thinking that is entrenched in PAS and that their so-called 'moderate' stance with PKR is all a sham.
Here Nik Aziz shows his ability to rule like a dictator. He is quoted saying, ‘Not only non- Muslims but also Muslims cannot protest against any fatwa'.
We non-Muslims have no right to speak on issues deemed wrong in the Quran. Therefor, he is saying that the Quran is absolute even for non-Muslims.
So if PAS was in power, everyone would have to comply with Islamic law. This shows that in the end, PAS is just pretending to be moderate and will only seek a hardline stance when in power.
Their attitude at PKR rallies regarding bands and concerts just goes to prove that they are a liability waiting to happen.
Anwar should be a leader and tell them to shape up or ship out.
On Mosques to give turtle conservation sermon
Umran Kadir: In recent times it has become all too common to read of religion being used to divide Malaysians and of narrow-minded religious authorities who wish to focus on minor or insignificant issues instead of the many important problems that still require addressing.
The imam of Terengganu who have chosen to take up the issue of turtle preservation should thus be lauded for tackling a problem of genuine importance and one that can have a positive influence on Malaysians of all creeds and colours.
Instead of attempting to tackle so-called problems such as yoga and tomboyism perhaps the National Fatwa Council can learn a thing or two from the imam in Terengganu who appear to have a much better understanding of issues that are going to have a far greater impact (economic and otherwise) on local communities in the medium to longer term.
This development in Terengganu hints at how religious authorities can in fact play a very positive and unifying role in Malaysian society.
Let us hope that religious authorities in other states throughout Malaysia will take note and that in the near future it will be common for religious sermons to be delivered on themes that reflect the genuine concerns of local communities on issues as diverse as the environment, corruption and the sanctity of all human life.
On Lim taken to task for wrong Islamic verse
Yum: So, we're splitting hairs over words again. Dr Hilmi Yahaya is taking offence at the (mis-)quoting of an Arabic phrase found in the Quran.
I sense that this good doctor, like all Umnoputras, cannot quite get the politicking out of their politico-religiosity.
Claiming certain phrases as belonging to Muslims is very self-serving. If the Penang government was wrong in the phrasing, then just gently tell them.
There's no need to go to a verbal war about it. People like this fellow give Islam a bad name among non-believers.
If people want to assert exclusivity, then I suggest you stop using the saying ‘money is the root of all evil'.
The correct Biblical saying is ‘the love of money is the root of all evil'. Not that Umno understands the meaning of this saying anyway.
There are other perfectly good Biblical sayings to replace that original Arabic phrase anyway. The Penang government is free to use these anytime.
