I knew something was up when I saw so many cars queueing up at the petrol stations on my way home. I immediately guessed that the Government decided to increase the petrol prices again and didn't bother getting in line although my tank was half empty (or half full...don't you dare start with that positive thinking crap with me now). How much can the increase be, right? Another 10 sen? 20sen? Hopefully not an arm and a leg!
(click to enlarge)
I came home, switched on the computer and logged onto Bernama to check on the latest petrol price hike. To my utmost horror, petrol and diesel will cost a whopping 30 sen per Liter extra from tomorrow! Yikes! Now that was unexpected! With such a 'generous' increase, the full tank for my SLK would probably now exceed RM50!!! *faints* The only supposedly 'good news' to the latest price hike is the Government's assurance there will be no further price hikes for the rest of the year and the savings from the reduced subsidy will go towards improving public transport. *phew*
Although this round of petrol price hike is quite steep (I'm still stumped, by the way), I still hold steadfast that it is the right move by the Government. Don't get me wrong, I'm also feeling the pinch here but this is the only way for us Malaysians to learn that there isn't an infinite supply of petroleum in the world and the billions of ringgit of subsidy used every year so we can enjoy insanely cheap petrol is not doing us any good.
Isn't it ironic that only this very afternoon I was discussing with my friends about how cheap our petrol prices are compared to other nations and still we are complaining about it. You have got to admit we Malaysians are seriously a pampered lot. So many times have I seen people turning on their car ignition just to travel that 50 meters to grab something from the sundry shop. For goodness sake, God didn't provide you those legs just so you can work the gas pedal!
(click to enlarge)
People should seriously start walking again for those short distances. It will do us all plenty of good. We don't exercise enough anyway! The recent hike will put the petrol prices very much closer to the unsubsidised prices, resulting in huge savings for the Government. I truly hope the Government will deliver on their promise that the funds saved will go to improving the public transportation system. It is the only viable solution to all the traffic jams and over-reliance on petroleum as an energy source we currently face. The Government should also step up efforts to promote the use of hybrid cars which will help reduce the over-reliance on petroleum as an energy source and help reduce the adverse impact on the environment. When will Penang get it's monorail and integrated transportation system? What happened to the good news the Prime Minister promised for Penangites not so long ago? Start delivering already!
(click to enlarge)
I came home, switched on the computer and logged onto Bernama to check on the latest petrol price hike. To my utmost horror, petrol and diesel will cost a whopping 30 sen per Liter extra from tomorrow! Yikes! Now that was unexpected! With such a 'generous' increase, the full tank for my SLK would probably now exceed RM50!!! *faints* The only supposedly 'good news' to the latest price hike is the Government's assurance there will be no further price hikes for the rest of the year and the savings from the reduced subsidy will go towards improving public transport. *phew*
Petrol Price Up Again
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 27 (Bernama) -- The retail price for petroleum products including diesel will be raised by another 30 sen effective Tuesday.
"The government has decided to raise the retail price of petrol and diesel by 30 sen per litre and the price of LPG by 30 sen per kilogram effective tomorrow (Tuesday)," said a statement from the Prime Minister's Office Monday night.
The increase was to tackle the impact from the increase in the price of crude petroleum in the world market and to curb the increase in subsidy which had to be borne by the government, the statement said.
However, the statement said that the government gave an assurance that there would be no further raise in the retail price of petroleum products this year.
The last time the government raised the retail price of petroleum products was on July 31, 2005 where the price of petrol went up by 10 sen per litre, diesel by 20 sen per litre and LPG by five sen per kilogram.
The new price of RON 97 petrol is now 192 sen per litre, RON 92 Petrol -- 188 sen per litre, Diesel -- 158.1 sen per litre and LPG -- 175 sen per kilogram.
In Sabah, RON 97 Petrol will cost 190 sen per litre, RON 92 Petrol -- 188 sen per litre, Diesel -- 158.4 sen per litre and LPG -- 183 sen per kilogram.
In Sarawak, RON 97 Petrol will cost 191 sen per litre, RON 92 Petrol -- 188 sen per litre, Diesel 157.8 sen per litre and LPG -- 183 sen per kilogram. All the new prices are higher by 30 sen.
"The retail price for petroleum products is being raised because in 2005 the amount of subsidy borne by the government was RM7.41 billion. Whereas tax exemption stood at RM7.85 billion.
"The burden of subsidy and tax exemption borne by the government from January to February 2006 was RM1.19 billion and RM1.44 billion respectively," the statement said.
The statement said that without subsidy and tax exemption provided by the government, the retail price of these products in March 2006 would be higher.
Without the subsidy and tax exemption, the price of RON 97 in the peninsula would have been RM2.46 per litre, RON 92 -- RM2.37 per litre, Diesel -- RM1.98 per litre and LPG -- RM3.21 per kilogram.
In Sabah, RON 97 petrol without subsidy and tax exemption would have been RM2.45 per litre, RON 92 -- RM2.37 per litre, Diesel -- RM1.97 per litre and LPG -- RM3.35 per kilogram.
In Sarawak, the price of RON 97 petrol without subsidy and tax exemption would have been RM2.45 per litre, RON 92 -- RM2.36 per litre, Diesel -- RM1.97 per litre and LPG -- RM3.34 per kilogram.
"Although the government is raising the price of petroleum products, diesel and LPG, the price of petrol and diesel in Malaysia is still cheaper compared to the price of most of these products in the Asean countries except for Brunei Darussalam," the statement said.
The statement also said the price of petroleum products in several other countries, including Asean countries, was higher than in Malaysia.
In Thailand, the price of RON 97 petrol is RM2.52 per litre, RON 92 (RM2.45 per litre), diesel (RM2.28 per litre) and LPG (RM1.65 per kilogram).
The price in the Philippines is RM2.21 per litre for RON 97 petrol, RON 92 (RM2.20 per litre), diesel (RM1.95 per litre) and LPG (RM4.90 per kilogram).
In Singapore, it is RM4.15 per litre for RON 97 petrol, RON92 (RM3.89 per litre), diesel (RM2.39 per litre) and LPG (RM5.32 per kilogram) while in Brunei the price for RON 97 petrol is RM1.22 per litre, RON 92 (RM1.19 per litre), diesel (RM0.71 per litre) and LPG (RM1.40 per kilogram).
In Indonesia, it is RM2.30 per litre for RON 97 petrol, RON 92 (RM2.20 per litre), diesel (RM1.68 per litre) and LPG (RM1.89 per kilogram).
The statement said the government had also introduced a diesel subsidy system for 84 per cent of vehicles in the land transport sector comprising public transport operators and consumer goods services through the use of fleetcards.
"With the use of fleetcards, they are able to buy diesel at a subsidised price of 15 sen lower than the fixed price," it said, adding that the Domestic and Consumer Affairs Ministry had issued a letter to inform the eligible operators of the matter.
The Prime Minister's Office also said the financial savings from the increase in the price of petroleum products would be used to finance development projects and improve the public transport system for the benefit of the people.
Although this round of petrol price hike is quite steep (I'm still stumped, by the way), I still hold steadfast that it is the right move by the Government. Don't get me wrong, I'm also feeling the pinch here but this is the only way for us Malaysians to learn that there isn't an infinite supply of petroleum in the world and the billions of ringgit of subsidy used every year so we can enjoy insanely cheap petrol is not doing us any good.
Isn't it ironic that only this very afternoon I was discussing with my friends about how cheap our petrol prices are compared to other nations and still we are complaining about it. You have got to admit we Malaysians are seriously a pampered lot. So many times have I seen people turning on their car ignition just to travel that 50 meters to grab something from the sundry shop. For goodness sake, God didn't provide you those legs just so you can work the gas pedal!
(click to enlarge)
People should seriously start walking again for those short distances. It will do us all plenty of good. We don't exercise enough anyway! The recent hike will put the petrol prices very much closer to the unsubsidised prices, resulting in huge savings for the Government. I truly hope the Government will deliver on their promise that the funds saved will go to improving the public transportation system. It is the only viable solution to all the traffic jams and over-reliance on petroleum as an energy source we currently face. The Government should also step up efforts to promote the use of hybrid cars which will help reduce the over-reliance on petroleum as an energy source and help reduce the adverse impact on the environment. When will Penang get it's monorail and integrated transportation system? What happened to the good news the Prime Minister promised for Penangites not so long ago? Start delivering already!
Wow. that's really expensive la. i'll sell my kidneys. know of any black market around? nyek nyek!
ReplyDeleteu sure the black market even wants your kidneys? ;P
ReplyDeleteanyway, my Indonesian friend informed me that the calculation is flawed. Indonesia's petrol prices is now cheaper than Malaysia's after the hike and is not as high as the one released by the PM's office.
are we been taken for a ride?
harhar....guess i better take out the umbrella and start walking around in the hot sun....again....
ReplyDeleteshud not have talked 2 u bout the petrol anymore...mulut masin!!!
hahaha...let's all start walking! :)
ReplyDeleterealised a typo in my previous comment...should be "have we been taken for a ride?"