"Dark" times ahead : Electricity also hiked?

In terms of the supply of electricity, I don’t know about the supply lines in Peninsular Malaysia, but here in Sabah, some places still experience power cuts and black-outs on a regular basis. So by the looks of it, not only the conditions now will promote people here in the state to walk on foot but also pay more for being in the dark all the time? And so economically, i'm advising friends to invest heavily on shoes and candles. It will be the next BIG thing after oil and electricity.

To make things more fun, next why not thirst the people to death by raising the water bills by 60%, then slowly proceed to starvation by taxing someone each time food is swallowed. It would greatly reduce the amount of population and it’s cheap as no expenses will be inccured. No one will be trialed for genocide because it's being done for the sake of economy, thus more “economic growth” can be seen at the expense of the population of Malaysia.

The scenario is, i know, very unlikely but that is my personal feeling. It’s not accompanied by hard facts but that is what the all mighty government making me feel. I am sure some might feel the same way, give and take more hardship. Some could say i’m over-reacting or being too emo, but earning little can make you feel that way and i cannot imagine about those who earn much more lesser than me. I grieve for Sabahans, rural folks especially.

Those who gives advice that one should remember there was a time when there were hardship, eating “ubi kayu” and such. Why do we always bring out the days of our fore fathers? Why are they included in arguments which does not concern them? I know those days were hard times but all have worked they butts off so hard to be in the position and livelihood we are in. Why do we, as citizens of a rich country of our beloved Malaysia, be thinking of reverting to the old ways? There's a quote from an English friend said to me that "New books are written not to replace the old ones but to make the old ones more referable and remembered". The hard times of the past have passed. It's good for us to acknowledge those times but what is current and future are the ones which impacts us most. A 2 cents candy 50 years ago is worth 20 to 30 cents now. All must remember that.

So we, as citizens who pay taxes, with rights, should be heard. Think for yourselves and your family and others will think of you. Malaysians have always shown that they have a tendency to be one in times of crisis and yes, we are in one big one. Sabahans, be more vocal. Don't be too accepting. I know you voted the current government to live better lives. But please looks at yourselves, your wife, parents, childen, siblings, relatives, friends and other and tell me, that you honestly feel everyone is living a good life? Your time of giving has ended, it's now the time to take and take what is rightfully yours. Don't just feel assured by statements, be assured. I'm the first to say "You deserve it", regardless of who you are.

Just my point of view

Fuel hike : Sign of political shift?

From a consumer’s point of view, with the abolishment of the subsidiy (The last rm0.30), we have to expect something in return that could curb other prices from spiraling out of order. Like i’ve said, an average Sabahan-Joe is earning mostly just around rm1000 per month and with the fuel price hike, we hardly feel any justice.

Eating at home or out doesn’t even count much either so something should be done on food prices even though it is agreeable that “world-food-price” is growing. Just hours ago, I went to have brunch at a chinese shop which i regularly have something to eat. Barely 12 hours after fuel hike, rice price already up by 50 cents. Prices of cigarettes, rubber products, home-needies would soon follow yet our “salary” is stagnant. Even my bank account would start growing spiderwebs virtually.

If no one does, then i’ll be the first to feel sorry for all of us. To compare our RM paper to the superior Pound sterling, Euro and Dollars (Brunei and Singapore Dollar even) is absurd. I really am behind those who posted that somehow, our salary structure SHOULD be reviewed, not only for those government servent but also YOU and I (private sectors). Imagine if your company is not making business and plus this fuel price issue and you’re the only child of a somewhat modest family and all of a sudden you're "released" by your employer, reason being "escalating expenses" the key. Pityful. I might end up selling my parents on ebay (that was a joke. I would never do that).

Anyway, complaining, researching, gossiping, presuming, and such will do nothing but please ourselves. We need to be heard but how? I KNOW for a fact that talking to your ADUN or MP is hopeless. They can’t even give you decent roads (in Sabah) or streetlights that work(except they built it near or INSIDE THEIR compound). If we rally or make public comments, it’s either jail or ISA. If we boycott the oil, we can’t work hence cannot earn. Who are willing to listen to us?

Difficulties my dear comrades. If only God was controlling the oil price, he’d let us fill our cars in return for faith. Just something we don’t have with the current government.

Just my point of view .

Fuel Hike :Breaking the hearts of Sabahan

Talking to the government is like talking to a brick wall. But instead of getting a “hello” as an echo, you get “reasons i should not say hello” in return as an echo.

I’m a Sabahan and i’ve studied and lived in KL for roughly 2 years during 1999-2001. I am now earning a leaving in my home town in Kota Kinabalu. I know the government have been virtually shouting at refining the public transport. But in comparing KL and KK, I find that the public transporation here in KK is supercalifragilisticly terrible(sorry to exagerate but those who’ve been here or living here should know).

Now with the super-price-hike of fuel, things have became more difficult. I’m not going to use statistics and such but purely from a view of a local resident of the state of Sabah. Hell, i won’t even go to the things which rural Sabahans are going through. I’ve been hearing the good and the bad of subsidies. OK~! Fair enough if all arguments are presumably true, YET, the fact remains Sabahans are way behind. Even a politician friend said that Sabah was the second poorest country in Malaysia (next to Kelantan) and were governed by BN and we even won them the election(in a way).

Back to the fuel hike, it’s already difficult on the salary side that most Sabahans are earning RM700 - RM1000 per month. Even with a degree, you’d be lucky to earn RM1500. I even have friends earning RM450 per month and he has a Diploma in Culinary Arts. Also we (who work) needs transportation, hence we buy a car (and kancil as the most probable transport solution). Earning that small amount and coping with the sudden hike of the oil price is really depressing and I do think Sabahan really feel this(if not, they wouldnt cue up from 6:30pm for fuel after the announcement). I am personally hurt myself. Maybe it’s true that the richer will get richer and the poor will get poorer.

If the plight of the people(not only Sabahans but Malaysians as a whole) is falling on deaf ears, then i think it’s time to voice our plight to “new ears”. I personally fell aggitated, aggrieved, mad, and etc at the sight of the picture our our “beloved” PM on the news today. If ensuring a rich goverment is his motive, why on earth did we put him in power for? If a new mechanism or a new scheme is not derived to meet the needs of the needy, then “Bye Bye”~!
The things i’ve said here are of my personal views. I can’t think of a reason why we are not been taken care for. Really sad and depressing. Petronas, the government, and etc. If they took and compiled all those seconds, minutes and hour they used to talk about how “cheap” our fuel is compared to other countries and used it to help the people in anyway, i’m sure there are smiling faces out there (even if there were only 10). Now they have a whole nation showing the mid finger to them.

Thanks for reading my plight.