The CEO of Petronas says that RM335.7 billion was paid to the government since its inception. Prior reports show that Petronas makes a net annual profit of about RM80 billion.

As one of the millions of taxpayers whose contribution made it possible for Petronas to be set up, how was the RM335.7billion spent? Were the accounts all these years scrutinised by competent independent auditors of repute? If money from Petronas’ earnings was used to subsidize fuel prices in the country, how much was the subsidy per year?

How was the rest of the money spent? Any honest, transparent government that respects accountablity would disclose all to the rakyat but since it hasn’t during the Mahathir era and now it is obvious what a rotten and corrupt government we have.

How has the rakyat benefitted from the inception of Petronas other than the financing of the highest, longest and biggest projects in Malaysia (if not the whole world) to boost up the image of one meglomaniac?

Even the monopoly of Petronas and its petrol station outlets throughout the country is in the hands of one race who are subserviant to the Umnputras, not to be equated with ordinary honest Malays. Other qualified Malaysians are insignificant in the Petronas formulae. They do not count!

Fuel prices have not only been hiked up exorbitantly but it is to reviewed monthly! One brilliant minister has even disclosed that the petrol price might be hiked further to RM4 per litre.

It is well and good to take unilateral action (only the Cabinet decided) but did these so-called caring and educated ministers take the poor rakyat’s plight in their decision making process.

The cabinet decided on the price hike only after a mere 4 hours deliberation. Why couldn’t they convene a meeting of the cabinet after they had received a report from a special committee comprising members of the academia, professionals, economists and NGO’s?

It is not enough to come up with knee-jerk decisions that have a profound impact on the lives of the rakyat.Talking about CHANGING LIFESTYLES is meaningless when the government does not change its penchant for grandiose schemes that only enrich the already filthy rich Umnoputras at the expence of the poor rakyat of all races.

A thorough review of the hike in fuel prices is necessary and should be taken without any delay so as to halt the accompanying escalation of prices of consumer products and services. The imminent hike in TNB tarif is another jolt to the taxpayer.

Why are these privatised monopolies (TNB and the other power suppliers to TNB) subsidised when they are making hefty annual profits? In the first public utilities should not have been privatised. This is one of legacies of the great Mahathir era. PIRATISE everything for personal benefit and that of cronies who are worse than the dreaded pirates of the Malacca Straits.

Can Mahathir, Pak Lah, his cabinet and his coterie of advisers sleep in peace when the majority of the rakyat suffer due to their inept and ad hoc decisions?