11% petrol price hike – but where is our improved public transport?

The price of RON95 petrol will be hiked by 20 sen from midnight today as the government tries to narrow its fiscal deficit – but this will only add to the burden for Malaysians faced with poor public transport options.

The could save the government RM1.1bn this year and RM3.3bn next year, but it is also expected to announce higher BR1M cash payouts at this year’s budget.

In principle, petrol price subsidies only benefit those with cars wheras the BR1M payments go to all low-income households – so this target group is really those who need the subsidy the most. But what about the money that is lost through corruption and illicit outflows?

Malaysia’s middle- and working class are already squeezed by higher house prices (where are the low-cost houses?) while working class wages are suppressed by the policy of allowing cheap and more easily exploited migrant labour.

If your car gives you 7 litres per 100km, this would mean you would have to pay RM1.40 more for the same distance. It basically means your petrol expenditure will rise by 11 per cent.

When will we we get better public transport so that we won’t have to rely so heavily on private motor vehicles?

-anilnetto