Abdullah confirm quitting?

From news reported internationally, it seems like it…

Malaysian PM says struck succession agreement with deputy
Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, facing calls to quit after disastrous election results, said Friday he had agreed a plan to hand power to his deputy, the state news agency reported.

Malaysia’s embattled PM confirms will step down
KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s embattled Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi confirmed on Friday he would step down, just three months after winning office, ending a leadership crisis sparked by the coalition’s worst ever election result

Personally, I don’t want him to quit.  I want him to address the issues at hand.
Quitting is just avoiding the situation.  He mentioned he wanted to stamp out corruption.  Where’s the result?  Rakyat has already voiced out what needs to be done; show us Petronas’ account, slash Government unnecessary expenditure, adopt open tender, answer all the scandals and work-went-wrong issues, etc.
Is it that the history is so way back, the baggage is too huge?  Or is the political chess game too complicated and complex, and the rope is too tangled up?  If the current government cannot undo its previous wrong-doing to rakyat, then the entire parliament sure needs a good wash inside out.

The other reason is, as much as I would want Najib to be PM (I have my reasons…. LOL), but I don’t really want to see Mahathir return back to UMNO or the government (if that would ever happen).  Of course, unless Najib dare to say no.  Mahathir has seen his days of glory in the political scene.  The time for him to step down has way passed, and thus should just leave it as that.  he has done enough for the country, and he does not need to leave any more marks in Malaysia political scene.

All I can say is, interesting time for Malaysia…

 

Rakyat’s voice

I just love this post.

http://bongkersz.com/2008/06/13/what-is-never-mentioned-in-mainstream-media/

It basically shows that rakyat are not as stupid as what the government thinks of or wants to be.  Rakyat are knowledgable, well-informed, but remained quiet, until now.

The mainstream newspapers have already been the past, so whatever information in the mainstream papers, rakyat know how to read them, to read between the lines, to read with pinches of salt.

Rakyat are responding and won’t sit quiet until rakyat get the deserved sound answers.  Divert rakyat’s attention all you want, but remember this… people will still remember this 41% hike.

p.s. In Cantonese, 41 means ‘doomsday’.  Does that mean doomsday to the current government?

Post hike, now the ripple

And what?! You expect rakyat to believe the government now?  You could just broadcast later during the evening news, that the next day, new higher prices for essential commodities would take effect with immediate effect.  Orr pa lat lo!!!

From The Star:

Friday June 6, 2008 MYT 7:04:00 PM

Sarawakians flock to buy cooking oil after rumour

By STEPHEN THEN

MIRI: There was panic buying of cooking oil in northern Sarawak Friday following rumours that the price of this essential commodity would increase by up to 50% on Saturday.

The cooking oil rush was seen in all supermarkets and retail outlets starting at 5pm Friday, just after office hours.

The rumour is believed to have been circulated via SMS on Friday.

Just two days ago, the rush for petrol and diesel fuel caused massive panic buying just hours before the hike on Wednesday night.

However, the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities warned that there has been no official approval for any price increase for 1kg, 3kg and 5kg of cooking oil.

”The Government has not approved any increase for these three categories. Whoever raises the prices would have committed an offence.

”The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) had not approved any increase. The price is controlled by the MPOB for these three categories,” said minister Datuk Peter Chin Fah kui via his political secretary Sebastian Ting.

RM2.70 now

Overnight, the hornet’s nest was stirred kau kau.

Let’s put it this way:
When the price went up to RM1.92, we Malaysians were complaining.  But we generally still accept that as bearable.  We took that down, a little bitter, but ok… it’s fine.

05 June 2008.  The govt decided to smack us all with a 41% increase of oil price.  We can’t sit still now.  We are angry.  Overnight, the price went up, and overnight, we have all become mob.

And we are not requesting or asking or merely putting the question on the table, we are demanding answers now:

1) We should compare ourselves with other oil-producing countries.  Even without this latest fuel hike, fuel for domestic consumption in Malaysia is one of the highest.  Furthermore, we are net exporter.  Where are all the $$ from oil-exporting, given the high price now?  We demand for Petronas accounts. 

2) Ok, you want to compare to countries in the region.  Let’s just take a look at Singapore.  The price in Singapore is SGD2.16.  The price in Malaysia is now RM2.70.  Dollar-to-dollar, the average Malaysian Joe who earns 2k would pay at least 50cent more for petrol.  Let’s look at the vehicle now.  In Malaysia, a Toyota Altis would cost RM110k, there about (yes? no?), and in Singapore SGD65k.  Everything else being equal (both countries pay for parking, pay for toll, pay for road tax, and so on.), will car price in Malaysia drop?  And please, do not use any Proton car for comparison with any other car brand.  It’s like comparing taugeh and strawberry…

3) And why Independent Power Producers (IPP) are spared?  The government had PPA, contractually binded?  Well, a promise was made to the rakyat, that no fuel hike until Aug 08.  That’s also a contract.  I’m sure that was reported somewhere in the papers or news.

What could have been, is this:

1) No subsidy for foreign cars.  Petrol subsidy should be reserved for rakyat Malaysia who has Malaysian plated car only.

2) Subsidy cut for big and expensive car owners.  Those who can afford SUVs and luxury cars are able to pay for oil at ‘international market rate’.  If not, don’t buy big cars.

3) IPPs should not be spared.  Period.

BN, losing so many seats at the last election should have served as a wake up call that the rakyat knows what you guys have done, what you guys are doing, or not doing, and that is serving the rakyat well and fair.  And the rakyat is saying: Stop all that.  Stop all those corruption, stop burning rakyat’s money, stop all the nonsense; start making rakyat’s lives better.  But you were voted back into power this time round, because you were given a second chance, and there isn’t gonna be a second chance the next time round.

BN, do come clean with this latest petrol price hike.  Be honest and lay down the TRUE facts.

As for me, I had enough.  The last election, I did not vote as I was oversea.  But for the next election, I know who I’m going to vote for now…  But still, BN, do come clean with this latest petrol price hike.  Be honest and lay down the TRUE facts.  I would want to think that the rest of the rakyat Malaysia would STILL want to give you a second chance for the next election.