Late yesterday evening, the announcement was made after much speculation, that petrol prices in Malaysia were being increased by a hefty 78 sen. That takes us up from RM1.92 to RM2.70 per litre. RM2.70! I remember when a plate of wantan mee was RM2.70.
That’s a very substantial increase and the biggest ever price hike in the country’s history. You know you are (a) old and (b) bitter when you can recall petrol prices of RM1.10 as a kid. This price increase comes hot on the heels of the denial and statement by the Minister of Domestic Trade just 2 days ago that fuel prices will only be increased in August 2008.
This is also a typical case of “Esok Tak Ada” which were the immortal words of the Prime Minister just a day before Parliament was dissolved to pave way for the General Elections. If there was a compilation of the most oxymoronic phrases uttered by our leaders, this “Esok Tak Ada” would go down in history right on top at No. 1. (Note to all government agents reading this: Please look up the word oxymoron in the dictionary before arresting me for sedition yes? 
)
So, with only this amount of petrol left in my car fuel tank
I grudgingly hauled my butt over to the nearest petrol station to fill ‘er up at the never to be seen again price of RM1.92 per litre of petrol.
All in all, it took me an hour to get to the pump, fill up to full tank and drive back home. Was it worth it? I think so. At an increase of 41%Â I saved RM23 last night as opposed to pumping my car today.
The man in the car before me was drastic enough to tilt up and lift up the hose of the pump to make sure that every single drop of petrol flowed from the pump into his car tank. Some people looked like they had been sitting in a jam for hours as the first thing they did when they reached the pump was to run for the toilets. Others stood around griping and sharing their misery with other like minded consumers. Interesting how it is in times of adversity such as this that the people will bond.
With the price of fuel going up, so too are the electricity tarrifs effective July 1. Expect your chicken rice to similar rise in price as well as every other consumer good out there. Inflation will soon hit an all time high, I predict, looking into my foggy crystal ball.
It looks like hard times ahead.
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What are we supposed to do? How to handle this? Sigh…
You got one car. I got two cars reaching empty tank yesterday and had no choice but to fill them up or pay in excess of RM45 if I fill them today. RM45 can buy us 1 1/2 packs of diapers or 2 1/2 packs of milk powder.
No point griping. Difficult times call for tightening of belt and increasing side income! And making sure BN becomes the next Opposition party comes the next Parliament.
My hubby had to fill ‘er up too last night, cos our petrol tank was EMPTY! SIGH….I drove past the petrol stations today, and they were relatively no customers there!
I was gobsmacked when I heard the news of the increase. What a big jump!
Bicycle, bicycle… Ok, I won’t be going down to Ipoh so often this summer then!
Lucky I filled up the day before… but unlucky that I got caught in the middle of a huge jam!
My father filled the car in the morning because he heard some insider news. But I got caught in the jam for two hours on an usual 15 minutes journey from my brother’s house to my parents’ house.
how come your speedometer has markings on them and mine doesn’t?
it’s $1.70 here, multiply that by 3 and… *gulp!*
Adino: I guess with a lifestyle change.
Pablo: I wouldn’t normally queue for the petrol but this time, with major savings I had to. Fortunately I stay relatively near the petrol station so not too much petrol was wasted getting back.
Giddy Tigress: I actually saw people at the petrol station the next morning! Very surprising.
Tine: Yep! Imagine how we felt here.
LB: If only a bicycle was an option!
Rinnah: Yeah the jams were crazy.
Leah: I guess everyone suffered that night.
Giddy Tigress: Markings? What markings?
May: But if you are earning AUD that’s perfectly wonderful!
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