KAJANG, 4 June 2008 - I am very concerned with the global developments on petrol pricing. We have heard and seen public acts of outrage and frustration in numerous countries, from 3rd world to developed nations, the repercussions are unimaginable but to give a sneak preview, it would include soaring price increase for basic food, daily travel, energy and etc. In France, fishermen's are demonstrating for their inability to afford to go out to sea, working class Indians in India are finding it hard to make ends meet and outbreaks of violence in Haiti because people cannot afford to eat. We are looking at a possible global epidemic, and the escalation of armed conflict and human displacement won't be mere prophesies anymore but stark realities. .. in Malaysia, a country that has poor public transportation system making owning a car for every household a necessity even if one can barely afford it, dependency on imported food products and our low competitiveness in the global industrial market, makes impact of the fuel hike even more difficult to bear especially for the working class who barely make enough as it is and those living in the outskirts of the city who will have to commute an average of 80km a day! However, at the same time when normal citizens are suffering, petrol companies are experiencing never been seen before record high profits and can even afford to give 12 months bonuses to employees (heard on radio this morning). Something is ridiculously wrong here!! And for oil producing countries like Malaysia, the petrol heritage is owned by her people but the benefits of the soaring profits are not being shared with them!!...can we not do something about this? or are we just going to let the so-called market dominate, the exact same excuse was given by petrol companies that pricing is a result of supply and demand, but they have barely changed. Global supply is not decreasing at a phenomenal rate. I have a feeling Petrol companies are trying to make future earnings now, to compensate when the oil really does run dry. Is this fair?! While long-term answers which lies in alternative technologies is the ultimate goal but we still need immediate answers for the impeding crisis, to relieve the situation in the next few weeks or months. What has happened to the NGV technology, is that not an alternative? We have been testing it long enough and by now all taxis are using it so why aren't the latest Proton cars not designed to include NGV cylinders? I want answers and I want it now.... or is this a prequel to a war with Iran?
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