Chia yew! Chia yew!

All newspaper quotes taken from The Star, 5th June.

"Besides an increase in petrol and diesel prices by 78 sen and RM1 per litre respectively, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi also said new electricity tariffs were also going to be revamped for Peninsular Malaysia users beginning July 1." - Front page.

Three things come to mind.

The first:


Ok, I feel bad for him. Maybe it's not his fault. If someone wanted to send you to space, would you say no?

The second:


Please don't go up there. If they insist on sending you, please find some meteoric rock that can be liquidated into useful hydrocarbon compounds.

The third:

Electricity tariffs will be revamped by July 1? Why not by tonight? Efficiency is good. Acting earlier than expected, even better!

They did it during the dissolution of the parliament. They did it again for the petrol hike. Why not make this the third.

* * * * * * * * * *

"He (Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) said the hike in fuel prices would cause a projected increase in inflation of around 4% to 5%." - N3.

"In Kota Kinabalu, Consumers Association of Sabah president Datuk Patrick Sindu said the price of goods was expected to increase between 10% and 20%" - N6.

Somebody will be right, somebody will be wrong. Or, Somebody may be lying, somebody may be making an honest mistake.

Or, maybe both can be right, because one is talking about Peninsula Malaysia, another is talking about Sabah and Sarawak.

But this statement below is the best:

"On claims that the fuel price increase would lead to inflation rising by 1%, (Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri) Khalid (Ibrahim) said the question was not the percentage but whether consumers have money in their pockets." - N8.

Totally "sao korna" the question, man! (Sao korna is a Hokkien phrase that literally means making a corner turn. In other words, it means to avoid a difficult question or uncomfortable situation)

Ok la, maybe I'm just choosing to see the bad side of things. Maybe he's trying to say the real problem is whether or not the rakyat will have money in their pockets, not so much about the projected percentage...

* * * * * * * * * *

"If not adjusted, the current income is definitely not enough for the average consumer. If people cannot cope, there might also be a rise in the crime rate." - Prof Datuk Hamdan Adnan, Fomca adviser.

This will hasten my turn to get robbed in Selayang. "Cina man pumping petrol! Let's get him! Get him!"

* * * * * * * * * *

There is no shortage of oil in the world and its present price level (US$135) was driven up by unreal speculation, said Malaysia Airlines managing director and chief executive Datuk Seri Idris Jala.

Asked what he thought was the fair value of crude oil at present, Idris replied: 'US$40.' " - N10.

Funny, we're not hearing anything from Ah Nua yet.

* * * * * * * * * *

"Poultry farmers have welcomed the Government's move to abolish the RM6 per kilo ceiling price for chicken." - N14.

What will happen to KFC? Nando's? Both my favourite chicken places!

It is indeed a sad, sad time...

* * * * * * * * * *

"Ong (Ka Chuan) said the Government had no choice but to increase the price due to the rise in global crude oil prices." - N8.

"Actually, I'm sure Pak Lah is going to lose the next election. If a supposedly informed citizen can overlook the worldwide situation on oil... Habislah. I'm of the opinion, he had no choice. Poor guy." - A.L., Sales and Marketing Executive, top chemical plant in Malaysia.

Kesian, kesian... Everyone also kesian...

* * * * * * * * * *

Natural Gas for Vehicle (NGV). No change. Prices remain at RM0.635 per litre - Front page.

Aslan (Hafizi Ahmad, managing director of Aslan Auto Services Sdn Bhd) said motorists who used natural gas could save up to 70% in petrol.

He said a full NGV tank which averaged at 17 litres was sold at RM12.

The amount, he said, could cover a mileage of about 230 km on highways and between 180km and 200km in town areas.

"The cost of installing the NGV apparatus ranges between RM3,000 and RM9,000, depending on the gas tank size." - M4.

Therefore, the pressing question now is...

To do this:


Or this:


Both about the same price.

* * * * * * * * * *

"When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, 'Come!' I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand.

Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, 'A quart of wheat for a day's wages, and three quarts of barley for a day's wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!" - John son of Zebedee, Revelation 6:5-6.

Time to take heed of biblical prophecies.