Old photos.

We were at Cynthia's place the other night to see them off to dubai and we went through some old photos. Thought I post it up here. SJ is so pretty and cute, which made this photo look kinda classic. Hahahah

Below, exhibit A. Who's ass is it?

Najib says...

"Don't expect pump prices to be constantly reduced"

I actually agree with him. Oil has hit a critical level of $50 a barrel, if it holds I think it will go down further but if it doesn't hold, it may just go back up and hover between $50 to $70. Further, our DPM said:-

“If we keep cutting the pump prices whenever crude oil prices fall then we will have to also increase the pump prices every time there is an increase at the international market."

Isn't that obvious? I don't know how else to put it simpler. It's the market, it's how currency, commdities, stock prices... are priced. They change every day.

“We cannot afford this kind of volatility. The people may not be able to cope with these sudden changes."

The last time price went from rm2 to rm2.6 in one day. I would call such big jump 'sudden changes' wouldn't you? These are extraodinary times.

“Oil prices cannot stay so low for long. Sooner or later it will increase. If we cut the prices too much, we will have to increase it even more and this will affect the people,” said Najib to Malaysian newsmen after attending Friday prayers at the Islamic centre here.

Why would u need to increase it EVEN MORE? Unless it peaks above $120 but that's quite unlikely.

When price went $100 to $140/barrel, our price went from rm2 to rm2.60.
When price went from $140/barrel to less than $50/barrel we went from rm2.60 to rm1.90?

Bring it down now and match it later. Is that so difficult? Right there's 'taxes'.

"Asked if the Government would allow the pump prices to float and be determined by the open market, Najib, who is the Finance Minister, said most petrol pump dealers would find it difficult to cope with such daily or weekly fluctuation of prices."

Well, then they shouldn't be in business. Most pump dealers have to cope with fluctuations like these in the world, how do they do it? Generally that's why you need to plan ahead, balance the cash flow and keep cost low. Something our government could learn really.

“If oil is too cheap we will not work very hard to seek alternative sources of fuel,” he added.

Ok, since when have we been working hard at seeking alternative sources of fuel? We have SURIA 1000 but that's hardly 'working hard'. Do we have wind farm? wave farm? Lowered taxes on fuel efficient cars like hybrid, electric, air, diesel, NPG cars? Solar cities? (and while nations are moving away from nuclear power... we seemed to be looking at it without having bakun dam finished. Why do I smell another billion dollars project?)

When oil was high, it was expensive to do so. Now oil is cheap we say we will not work very hard. So when's a good time?

Heads you win, Tail you lose pt 3

Tell me, what was the first word you said (in your head also count!) right after you read this.
.
.
.

Context... ever since petrol peaked a few months ago, the government has been crying foul about how they can't afford subsidy anymore. They were losing billions!! (So they say... except for that P-company which were making billions suddenly with the increase of oil price)

They had NO choice. See they say it here:

"PUTRAJAYA: The Government announced yesterday an increase in petrol and diesel prices, stating that it can no longer continue to subsidise fuel. "

Some people then say taking away subsidy is also good because we should go to a free market system. The government can also use what's saved to other areas.

"He said the Government would save RM13.7bil through the restructuring.

From the savings, he said RM4bil would go to the National Food Supply Guarantee Policy, RM1.5bil for subsidising cooking oil and RM400mil to subsidise rice imports to make the price uniform in peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.

The Government would also spend RM200mil on flour subsidy, RM100mil on bread subsidy and RM7.5bil was meant for contributions to the subsidies for petrol, diesel and gas."

Subsidy or not, inflation quickly sky-rocketed.

And just as it quickly went up it came down. And down. It came down so much that we are now paying TAXES on fuel? TAXES?!!!

CCB! From GETTING subsidy at current prices we end up PAYING taxes!!!!!! and the more petrol price is dropping the more the government can take!

Now, with ALL the BIG savings we get from the cancellation of subsidy we were promised infrastructures.. bla bla blah... now leh? Now do we get more?

Savings + Taxes = more infrastructure? better internet lines? cheaper goods? or just more eurocopter?

When oil prices went up, the people had to take the big blow. We bore the inflation and now that the oil prices has come down we have to pay tax? Is this how a caring government show love?

So what did u say right after you read the news?

FUCK!

Rest

When you rest, God will do the rest