Wangsa Maju folk surprise their MP

Wee Choo Keong had a birthday surprise when visiting Wangsa Maju folk burst into his office last Wednesday night (June 25 2008) with a birthday cake instead of complaints alone. Here are the pics. Better pics will follow later.
Happy Birthday, YB!!

Blog down

This blog went down since 2 days back for no apparent reason. I created a dummy blog, exported the contents in http://wangsamajuformalaysia.blogspot.com into this dummy blog, tweaked it, and deleted the http://wangsamajuformalaysia.blogspot.com. Subsequently I rename the dummy blog to http://wangsamajuformalaysia.blogspot.com.

The import and export feature is only in Blogger in Draft, the new blogger format, in case you didn't know. The screenshot of these new features are shown below.

We also maintain a backup site at Wordpress, but will remain at Blogspot for the moment. Make no mistake, Wordpress is a great site to host blogs.

Indonesia and the oil crisis

Amidst rising oil prices and inflation rate (estimated to be 8.9%), Indonesia is contemplating withdrawing from OPEC and direct the production of its oil for local consumption. Like Malaysia, Indonesia too, made a governmental executive decision to cut fuel subsidies and increase fuel price by 30% on May 5, 2008 in order to quash a budget deficit. With national elections looming over the horizon in 2009, Indonesia looks like it has little choice in the oil price game- increase domestic oil production and lower the prices; or loose the elections in 2009. The Indonesian public had voiced their anger in the Makassar (Sulawesi) demonstration recently. Compare to its neighbor Malaysia, Indonesian citizens has more reasons to protest- almost 50% of its 235 million people live on less than USD2 a day… its GDP per capita in 2007(USD3,900) is 30% that of Malaysia (USD12,900).
Parents are forced to give up children to crowded government-funded orphanages there!

The price of hiring Indonesian maids

The Star reports today the cost of hiring Indonesian maids may cost more. Association of Foreign Housemaids Agencies (Papa) president Datuk Raja Zulkepley Dahalan warned that employers may soon have to fork out up to RM8,000 to hire an Indonesian maid. The monthly salary of maids in the following countries are compared:

Taiwan RM2,400

Hong Kong RM1,700

Singapore RM700-800

Brunei RM700-800

Malaysia RM550

At face value, we may think Malaysia has the lowest maid salaries but did you know in terms of wealth these countries rank high above Malaysia? Check out this article from International Herald Tribune. In 2007, Brunei's (about USD30,058) GDP per capita is 2.33 times higher than Malaysia's (USD12,900) and Hong Kong's (USD37,300) is 2.9 times higher. Singapore (USD31,400) is about 2.4 times higher. With more wealth, comes more spending power, hence we can't compare wages in this manner.

What is "Subsidy"?

Someone emailed this to me, I thought it was worthy of posting.

The story about "apple subsidy".

A man called Maha owns a farm which can produce 10 apples every day. He has 5 workers to operate the farm. Each of them eats 1 apple daily and it is enough to keep them operating the farm normally. The remaining 4 apples, the landlord sells them at RM10 each and he earns RM40. He uses the RM25 to improve the farm operation and facilities. He gives RM2.00 to each of his workers and he keeps the remaining RM5.00 as profit. Day by day, the farm is well developed and all of the 5 workers are happy with the money they can save.

When Maha passed away and there is a new landlord, Abdul comes to continue the farm operation. He says to the workers:" We need to improve the farm quality and redefine our way of thinking.From now on all of you only need to pay RM1.00 for each apple you eat. It is very cheap as the price is RM10 each outside the farm." The workers have no choice but to pay RM1.00 for the apple they eat daily. Their earning decrease from RM2.00 to RM1.00 per person.

As usual, Abdul sells the 4 apples and he gets RM40. He uses RM25 for farm improvement and pays RM10 to his 5 workers. He gets RM5.00 as profit. On top of that, he gets another RM5.00 from the apples that he sells to his workers. In total, he gets RM10 as profit every day. Soon, the apple price increases to RM20 each. The new landlord gets a higher profit as he gets RM80 for the 4 apples he sells daily. Then, he decides to give the farming improvement contract to one of his close friend, Samy. Samy says:"Apple cost naik, improvement cost also misti naik." So, the farm improvement cost increases from RM25 to RM50. In actual, the improvement only cost RM30.

The remaining RM20, Abdul and Samy share evenly among themselves. Let's calculate how much Abdul gets daily:

RM10 (from farm improvement cost)

RM20 (Net profit by selling 4 apples:

[Gross profit,RM80] - [Improvement cost, RM50] - [Wages RM10] = RM20)

RM5 (from selling apples to his workers)

In total, Abdul gets RM35 daily compare to RM10 initially when he takes over the farm from Maha. His profit increases RM25 and the workers are still getting RM1.00 daily per person. The greedy Abdul does not want to stop there.

One day, he says to his fellow workers:" You see ah, the current market price for one apple is RM20 and you are only paying RM1. See how lucky you are! I have to SUBSIDY RM19.00 for each of the apple you buy and total I need to SUBSIDY RM95.00. This will greatly burden the farm and we might get bankrupt if we continue like this. In order to avoid bankruptcy, I need to increase the apple price that you buy from RM1.00 to RM1.50 and I will bear the remaining RM18.50 per apple as my subsidy to you all. " So, greedy Abdul adds RM2.50 to his current profit and the number becomes RM37.50.

After you have read the story, I am sure you have already understood the meaning of "SUBSIDY" given by the government. The RM95 subsidy never existed in the first place and so was the RM52 billion fuel subsidy generously "given" by the government. Cutting fuel subsidy is actually just a reason to steal money from your pocket.

Source: written by DJH, June 13, 2008 13:49:44

Bank employees get 17% upwards salary adjustment

The wage negotiation between the National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE) and Malayan Commercial Banks Associations (MCBA) has been stalemate for years, since the year 2006. Get the latest update here and here. News splashed across the MSM tabloids paint Badawi as mediator and hero, ending the 3-year wage negotiation deadlock. The salary adjustment is 17% for clerical, non-clerical and special-grade staff. Adjustments are estimated to vary between RM4K-RM17K per individual depending on staff grade and service length.

Is Badawi really a hero? The NUBE was originally fighting for a 30% increase in salary not 17%.

Anwar's speech at Stadium Shah Alam, June 20 2008

Video courtesy of Malaysiakini



Anwar praises the good governance in Kelantan and Penang and change which Guan Eng has made to Penang since DAP took over. He also briefly talks about his recent Dubai trip, meeting Middle East taikos and the prospect of bringing Middle East investments to Selangor. To the supportive crowd he lists the achievements done so far in Selangor State and adds to talk about good economic growth without corruption. With this, Anwar energetically requests BN MPs to cross over to PR.

Malaysia faces a decision making crisis

Malaysia faces a decision making crisis, not a succession crisis. The manner Badawi handling his 'succession plan' is ridiculous:

June 14, 2008- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak reaches an agreement on the right time for a leadership change, but no deadline announced. Badawi merely clarifies his 'great' working relationship with Najib, etc. This press release gave the impression that the PM is retiring very soon probably in a few weeks' time.

June15, 2008- headlines read 'Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has yet to set a precise date to transfer power to Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.' Also on the same day, Badawi says he will defend his post in the UMNO December elections. In April he had told people that he'd hang on to the PM post till the year 2010.

On June 19, SAPP makes an admirable move- to table the vote of no-confidence on the start of the Parliament session on June 23.

Who would have confidence with this PM's display of flip-flop attitude. My advice is Badawi, if you don't mean it, don't say it in public otherwise it will continue to make you look stupid.

KLCI falls badly

The KL Composite Index fell 21.11 points or 1.7 percent at 1,191.48 by lunch today- a 3-month low due to political factors... after Sabah-based BN coalition party SAPP announced that it would move a motion for a no-confidence vote against the Prime Minister when Parliament starts its seating next Monday (23rd June 2008). At the close of trading today, the CI eased to 15.17 points or 1.24% at 1212.59.



Financial stocks are the major decliners, followed by plantation stocks- the CIMB, MBB, PBB, IOI, Sime Darby KL Kepong counters all fell.



Am I going to starve to fill your rice-bowl?

I had a chat with an acquaintance Mr. R today. I casually asked him how he would feel if there was a change of government. He replied that it would be bad for business, because that would mean less projects through their connections with the government and ruling coalition. This cause a rift between us and i ended up arguing with Mr. R with the result of me being called nuts and the conversation ending abruptly.

I am angry, because although I know that building connections is a very integral part of the system here is Malaysia, my question is if you are a good and stable business with credibility why worry that a change will cause loss of business? Am I being naive in thinking that any projects given out by the government or its ruling coalition should be tendered openly and given to the best with the most reasonable price? Most businessman will support the current government because they have spent too much money, resources and networks to make connections for them to start all over again.

But I wish they would look at the bigger picture. At the world stage we are no longer a competitive country. Wasted resources, leakages and bad governance has caused us to become a country no longer desirable for foreign investment. Who cares if they can get cheap labour here? The amount of money needed to "duit kopi" approvals has cause defection to other Asian regions. I claim do not claim to be an economic expert but the amount of countries who at one point used to be far behind us, not even on the same level are surging way ahead of us.

We're being surpassed by countries such as korea, china and india who at one point were lagging far behind but we're now being practically raped in terms of attracting foreign investment. This should be a cause of concern to businessmen regardless of how much they are earning now.

I urge all business people to think, which is more important? Securing your business now at the expense of your children's future, thinking that it does not matter because you'll have a big enough business to pass on to them or ensuring they grow up in a conducive environment which will allow free competition and bring out the best in them. Competitiveness is what makes people strive harder and better themselves. Complacency will merely lead to eventual decline and rot.

It is time we move in to the idea of a tender system based on meritocracy and get the best talents lest they feel frustrate and leave to better places where they'll be appreciated.

Quick Dummies' Nonsensical Guide to Street Demonstrations

  1. Do not stand at the side of the crowds. Stand inside the crowds.
  2. Stand beside a lady if you can find one. They (FRU) seldom whack girls. Don't ever stand beside a big-sized guy (no offense to bodybuilders please).
  3. Wear sport shoes. Handy when the running starts.
  4. Know the location of the nearest sinsei.
  5. Watch the movie '300' before going.
  6. Know the telephone numbers of your lawyers. You may need more than one. It helps, of course, if your MP is a lawyer.
Updated (June 4,2008):
  1. Bring a catapult and stand inside the crowds to launch your ammo (depending on how long you want to stay in Kamunting, you may either choose longan seeds (make sure you start eating your longans from today to save the seeds); marbles or ball bearings)
  2. Pretend to be nursing a leg injury and still in cast, and walking with a steel tongkat. (No prizes for guessing why pretend to do this).
  3. Wear extra thick clothing. Bring along knee pads, elbow pads and baseball catcher’s helmet (Again, no prizes for guessing why bring such stuff).
  4. Last but not least,…..make sure you have your WILL done, signed and executed (? Not sure about the ‘executed’ part ?)
  5. Protests are great for launching political careers for the next GE. Your poster tagline will be ‘membela nasib rakyat; bekas tahanan ISA’ ,etc. Adds weight to the resume.

No more petrol price increase?

A couple of mornings ago on the way to work I heard the news on the radio stating that originally Malaysians are supposed to pay RM3.45 a litre. Then we have a wonderful reassurance from our beloved 'flip-flop' PM stating that they will not increase the price of petrol this year.

This worries me even more because 'flip-flop' PM is famous for doing the exact opposite of what he pledges. So if he promises not to increase petrol price anymore, you know what's going to happen...

Remember back in 2004 when he came into power with a whopping mandate and promised us to eradicate corruption? Nope, corruption got more rampant till the extent it was so obvious. The Chinese have a saying which translates into something like 'if you're going to eat, at least wipe your mouth clean'. Well i think BN have smudges up to their eyebrows.

And remember when he told us he wanted to fight rising crime rates? Well as far as I know, that didn't go very well. In fact now with the rising petrol price, I'm almost scared to step out of my house because it seems people do not even have enough money to buy food anymore. Well at least now I won't have to worry about my car getting stolen since everyone will be looking to conserve petrol.

Oh, and remember when he said that BN will get a confident landslide victory again during the 12th GE? HMM...wonder what happened then? Oh, and then he promised not to disband parliament, but he did. And also to step down, but he didn't.

The list just goes on and on and on....

Now most people I know, who given their education level, IQ competence and aptitude should be making it big...are stuck with either getting an extra part-time job for income or cutting back cost because, we have lost our competence, we are not moving forward and we have to deal with higher cost of living.

So, if marching in protest is going to do any good, I am with you. Even if it doesn't I will still be with you because seriously, all this pent-up energy and anger is bad for me.

And RWM just because I'm a girl, please don't hide behind me!

I'm convinced in the need for a new government ASAP

Yesterday I managed to pull my dad to a talk by the Pakatan Rakyat led state, Selangor in Ulu Klang. Despite short notice, the field was packed to the brim at about 9.30 pm.


Of course the main star of the event was de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim. Here's an interesting fact divulged by the new state government; the so called subsidies which the goverment claim they can't handle anymore amounts to about RM15 billion. Fair enough, but do you know that only RM2 billion is actually subsidised to the Rakyat?

Apparently about 6 billion goes to Independant Power Producers which are actually held by large multi-million dollar corporations such as Genting Sanyen and YTL corp. Also, another 5 billion goes to other similar large privatized companies who are rolling in money. Only about 2 billion reach the rakyat...


This has convinced me, any change is definitely better than the current polpots who are in power now. My parents did not raise me up to be a boot licker, so FUCK you BN I will not join MCA just to fill my pockets at the expense of everyone else.


And to anyone who is in BN thinking that they can do good and serve the people, there are only 2 scenarios:

1)they're fucking liars

2)they're brainwashed into thinking the goverment is good, in this case refer to the North Koreans and how they believe Kim Jong Il is God.


I really doubt ANYONE can do a worse job then the current goverment so screw inexperience, screw the "it's immoral to cross over" crap! I want a change, and I want it before we end up being a bankrupt third-world has-been country.

Hike in fuel price; the woes of a fresh grad...

I've been keeping silent since the hike in fuel price on Thursday, mainly because I started out with my first 'real' job on Wednesday, 4th June 2008 and i've been struggling with calculations on how to cut back now.

I was pretty happy that morning, I have a proper job right after my exams, even before I am officially a degree holder and the starting salary of a fresh grad. It's a meager 2k a month job, but I figured when took it, hey, everybody's got to start somewhere right?

I calculated my cost, RM10 a day for petrol, RM10 a day for parking and RM10 a day for lunch. So i spend RM30 a day, time 22 days a week, so that's RM660 a month. Minus that from my salary, give or take some extras, I'll probably have about RM1200 left. Then after paying installment for my car, that's about RM400, I have RM800 left. Not too shabby I thought...until the end of the first day when a friend rang me up and said,"hey you might want to stop by the petrol pump on your way home, they're hiking the oil price up to RM2.70!"

Well there goes my calculations flying out of the window! So where does my 'glamarous' pay leave me at after the hike? Well strike out my RM10 a day for petrol, increase it to RM15 and multiply that by 22, I have to pay an extra RM110 a month just to get me to and from work! Let's not forget, the hike will also entail rise in food prices, that means I'll probably have to spend an extra RM100 eventually on food! So, it seems that I'm left with a little over RM400 a month to survive on.

And who am I to complain? Most people I know start with a pay of RM1500, what will they be left with? If according to my expenditure, they'd be left with a negative balance! So, it seems a prudent way would be for me to take public transportation right? Yes, I did consider it. The problem is this; how do I get to Damansara Heights from Wangsa Maju?

Well, lets set out the options;

The bus

This would entail a route of taking the bus from Wangsa Maju to maybe a central stop in Kl. Then wait of another bus en route to PJ, which may not be directly to Damansara Heights, which means another switch of buses once in PJ. That makes 3 different buses for an area 15 kilometres away! My usual 20-30 minute drive, would end up in a 3-hour ride!

The LRT

Well, I could take the Putra LRT from Wangsa Maju up to perhaps Bangsar and either

a) take a bus or

b) take a cab

to my work place, and do the same when leaving for home. Again, no direct route and requiring at least 1-2 hours travel.

If I recall, that would be the time it takes for me to reach Seremban!

So much for a degree, looks like life is going to be crap as usual! Sigh, I guess this means taking up a second job just to make ends meet, plus going for classes once they decide CLP or CBC. I might just consider moving to Vanuatu, but then I remembered, they're probably having a food crisis and I just might starve to death.

The question that boggles the mind is this. If we are one of the biggest net exporters of petroleum in Asia, why is the hike in oil price affecting us? Has Brunei or Saudi Arabia announced a hike in their local consumer's price? If we sell oil, and the price of oil goes up doesn't that mean we should be earning more? Hey, I'm no economist or math genius, but isn't this common sense? Ok, so if we're not making enough, who decides?

Why do I have to take the word of a bunch of apes running the revenue of the country? I want to see figures, published accounts, expert INDEPENDANT opinions, then I'll decide if the rise is justified. Right now, all I know is a bunch of dumb low IQ animals are running the country and honestly, I don't buy the shit they're forcing up my throat!

Since Bodohwi's administration took over in 2002, the rise in petrol price has more than 100%. In 2002-2003, the price of a litre was about RM 1.33, then it went up to RM1.92 which by then the stupid Govt machinery had already plastered up billboards to remind us how kind they are by sucking in their belts and showing us the subsidised price against the non-subsidised price, reminding us how 'generous' they are. Now, 6 years later, it's up to 2.70 a litre...that's more than double the increase since 2002. And these are the prices in other oil-exporting countries;


Iran — RM0.29 per liter.
UAE — RM1.19 per liter
Venezuela — RM0.16 per liter
Nigeria — RM0.32 per liter
Arab Saudi — RM0.38 per liter
Mesir — RM1.03 per liter
Kuwait — RM0.67 per liter
Brunei — RM2.03 per liter
Malaysia — RM2.70 per liter
When we study corporate governance, we have learned that huge multi-billion corporations such as Enron and Worldcom can fall in the hands of a few key people. The reason was mainly lack of accountability, transparency and of course the source of all evil; greed, corruption and fraud. These few people in position have the power to siphon off money and cover up their deeds from public scrutiny leading a profiting company to its downfall. To me, a government is just like a huge corporation, and a government not checked will have the ability to bring a nation to its ruin.


If this style of closed door accounts and 'secret profits' is not checked, it is us stakeholders in the company who will be left to suffer. If previously, the rakyat has not felt the urgent need for a change because no one really cared whether they had a right to freedom of speech or good governance, perhaps now they will care because they feel a burn in their pocket!

If nothing changes soon, I'm packing my bags and leaving to a place which appreciates me more for my education and capability, and not the colour of my skin. I hope the stupid govt. then doesn't start to blame us grads for being ungrateful and not returning to contribute to the country! Honestly, can you really blame them?

UMNO bigwigs meet over party direction

SHAH ALAM: For two days, Umno leaders evaded reporters who camped at a hotel here, where a retreat for party supreme council members was held to discuss the party's direction and winning back the people's support.


Soon after the two-day meeting ended around noon yesterday, party president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak went off without meeting the media, while others party leaders declined to comment on the outcome of the meeting.


Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad merely said: “We talked about Umno strategic planning. This was more an opportunity for members to sit down and talk about what to do with the party.”


Asked whether there was a potential political setback in view of the petrol hike, he said: “I don't think so because in the end, there are other aspects of overall programmes that we are giving back to the people.


“What we have to emphasise is this is the first time we are reducing the subsidy for petrol,” he said.


When approached, Umno vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said he did not have the authority to say anything about the event.


On whether the succession plan of the Prime Minister ws discussed, he said: “I have no right to say yes or no.”


On the outcome of the retreat, he said: “Very positive."


No need to meet la- it's a waste of time. Just abandon party.

The impact of a fuel price rise

The Goldman Sachs group analyses that Malaysia's consumer price index may shoot up to 7% this month. Bank Negara estimates inflation could go up as high as 4.2% this year, while other financial institutions in Malaysia make estimations of inflation from 4-plus percent to a near 6 percent for the whole of 2008.

Immediate impact of the fuel price increase:

* Transporters and fowarders plans to increase service charges by 35% (price of diesel has increased from RM1.58 to RM2.58);

* Electricity rates increases by an average of 18%-26% for commercial and industrial consumers depending on usage; whilst the model of charging is peculiar for households. They pay the same rates (no change) provided usage is maintained at the same level;

* Price of gas will increase by 187% on 1st July 2008 as announced by Petronas;

* KLCI falls like crazy at the point of writing- a 27 point downwards. Plantation and bank counters are bears today.

* Further impact- who knows- higher crime rate, higher food prices, slowdown in local tourism industry, higher lending rates to be imposed by Bank Negara, increase in non-performing loans and so on;

* By the way, the ceiling price of RM6 per kg of chicken is also removed.

Mitigation to the 41% fuel price hike:

* Rebate for car owners- RM625 for car owners less 2000cc (for trucks and jeeps the threshold is 2,500cc) in capacity;

* Possible reduction in road tax, an initiative currently being studied.

If you have noticed from the facts above, the negative impact is net of all positive measures and to my personal estimation will reduce the average salaried worker's disposable income by at least 30% (the accuracy of this estimate is of course reserved, given the wide range of salaries and spending habits of Malaysians). The worst part is... this is just the start of the planned increases of up to a very possible RM4 per liter by August 2008.

As we know, the only company making profit out of this situation in this country is Petronas. Given the nature of the confidentiality of its company accounts, one can only suspect the amount of 'consultancy fees' expensed out in Petronas' profit and loss accounts. One can only speculate the beneficiaries of such 'consultancy fees' and various forms of funds channelled out of Petronas' bank accounts. It is in the interest of Malaysian citizens that Petronas' external/ internal auditors are changed and replaced; and its audit reports, financial statements and other notes to its accounts be made public.

I urge the MPs to fight for this right.

Room for rent anyone? We'll post it up for you

Hi guys, sorry no posts from me lately, i just started a new job yesterday and trying to adjust my life post exams.



Anyway quick notice, i've had a couple of queries about rooms for rent when i posted it for my friend last, however that room was rented out the next day so he didn't really need my help. I was thinking since this is a community blog, people if you have rooms or houses you would like to rent out please leave me your details and contact number. Send it to doglover.kelly@gmail.com and I will post up a query on the blog. Any responses and I will get back to you.



Hey its free advertising, and i have had a couple of requests, however no rooms at hand.

Malaysia, hit by massive subsidy bill, will raise gasoline price by 40 percent

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia: A government minister says Malaysia will raise its gasoline prices 40 percent.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Shahrir Abdul Samad says the government will also give a yearly cash rebate to owners of small and medium sized cars to offset their burden from the huge hike.

Subsidies have kept price of fuel in Malaysia among the lowest in Southeast Asia. But the government says it cannot afford to fund the subsidies any longer.

Shahrir told reporters Wednesday that the price of gasoline will go up from 1.92 ringgit (US$0.61) a liter to 2.70 ringgit (US$0.87) a liter.

He indicated that the price hike will be nearly immediate, and that further increases were planned.

Malaysia's fuel ban on foreign motor vehicles

KUALA LUMPUR, May 31 (Reuters) - A temporary curb on foreign motorists buying fuel at Malaysian petrol stations will begin on Monday, two days later than earlier planned, local media reported on Saturday.

A Domestic Trade Ministry official said the change was made to allow all parties involved to be ready.

"This is to ensure that all parties involved in the implementation of the rules, including traders and users especially foreigners, understand the guidelines," Iskandar Halim Sulaiman was quoted as saying by Berita Harian.

Malaysia had earlier said filling stations in its towns bordering Singapore and Thailand would be temporarily barred, starting Saturday, from selling fuel to foreign-registered vehicles in a move aimed at curbing the abuse of subsidies.

Hundreds of Thai and Singapore motorists cross into Malaysia daily to seek cheaper diesel and petrol.

The Malaysian authorities have said the ban would be lifted when a new fuel subsidy mechanism is in place to ensure that only deserving Malaysians receive the subsidies. (Reporting by Liau Y-Sing; Editing by Valerie Lee).

It's another way of saying- people from Singapore and Thailand, please don't drive into Malaysia. And considering Malaysian Permanent Residents in Singapore- please don't come home. And it's still Visit Malaysia Year till August 2008. Instead of banning foreign car owners from buying petrol why not sell them petrol at a higher rate. The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry should study and come up with a rate structure which allows the selling of petrol to foreign registered vehicle owners at the market rate not an outright ban. Come up with the price structure, then brainstorm on a mechanism to regulate and control the petrol sales to foreign vehicles. Not an outright ban of petrol sales to Singaporeans and Thais.

Singaporean and Thai tourist arrivals to Malaysia make up about 50% (10.5 million) and 8% (1.6million) of total tourist arrivals in 2007 (source: Malaysia Tourism Board). Average tourist spending in Malaysia was slightly above RM2,000 per tourist in 2007. Average spending per tourist per night was slightly above RM300 in 2007. Given the short distance between Singapore and Johor, the obvious logical choice for Singaporeans is to drive-in rather than to fly into Malaysia. Whilst Thai tourists fly and drive to Malaysia in an equal ratio, about over 95% of Singaporeans drive across the Causeway. With the ban, Singaporeans, the biggest market segment of tourist arrivals, cannot drive in Malaysia any more. I hope the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry and Ministry of Tourism (by consultation) has studied the impact on Malaysian tourism before banning petrol sales to this market segment.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Shahrir Abdul Samad and Tourism Minister Azalina Othman, did not you all discuss about this beforehand? You guys would not have lasted a day in the corporate sector with this kind of performance.