A hefty price hike of petrol drives fixed income people crazy .

I have not been writing in this column for quite some time because I was then busy after we moved in to our new house. So many things to be done and the internet is still not made available there yet. Each time I want to read my e-mail ,I have to come to our old home in Shah Alam .As such I hardly have enough time to think and to write. Today , immediately after my classes at University Malaya , I drop over in Shah Alam to find time to write .

Last week on the 25th.February 2006 we had our joint house warming / Alisya's Birthday party at our new house . It was attended by about 100 people comprising of our old neighbours in Shah Alam , new neighbours , friends and relatives and also Alisya's friends . There were sumptious food like satay , mee curry ,ketupat ,roti jala and the kuehs wich we ordered from the local supplier . Alisya collected a large collection of presents including a bicycle which I bought for her .She was so happy .Unfortunately I had forgotten to take pictures of her cutting the cake .

That night we had a great shock because some parts Shah Alam was badly flooded. Worst hit were places like Taman TTDI , Seksyen 13 including Giant ,Makro ,stadium icluding Alisya's apartment . Aizad's new car - Proton Gen 2 was half submerged and had to be towed to the workshop for repairs .( Till date his car is still not ready ).About 2,000 people had to be evacuated . The Menteri Besar of Selangor dared not show his face for fear of being booeed by the angry residents . He was so anxious to declare Selangor as a ' Negeri Maju ' , but it's residendents still have to face with the floods - what a shame .

On 1st.Match 2006 the so called people friendly government announced a hefty price hike of petrol ,diesel and gas . Petrol was increased 30 sens per litre and this would really burden the people .Not only that , because as usual the increase in price of petrol would be followed by the increase in price of food items . Economists predicted that the inflation rate in this country this year would go up as high as 30% . Fixed income people especially pensioners like me would be worst hit . We would have to tighten our belts or else we would end up diluting our savings or worst still we would be at the mercy of the loan sharks . What most Malaysians do not understand is that Malaysia is an exporter of oil and yet we have to pay very high for it. To pacify the people the governemnt would always compare the price of oil in Singapore and Thailand whose per capita income is much higher than us. What a stupid comparison .The fact is the government has been wasting alot of money unnecesarily . New roads and bridges has been found to be cracking and had to be repaired using the rakyat's coffers . Government's agencies like MAS, Bank Islam and many more are suffering a deficit and and is on the verge of bankruptcy. They are being rescued using the rakyat's coffers . Where are all the money has gone to ? Definitely into some one's pocket . Now is it fair for the rakyat to bear it too ??? I am fed up talking about this because it will never end even till the cows come home .

I thouight I could retire in peace and to enjoy my pensions .But it looks like I would have to find employment to suppliment my income .