That petrol subsidy

It's sad isn't it when the very people you put your trust in betrays that trust?

How else would you term the Myanmar government saying that the people could eat frogs and fish to survive? It's really strange coming from the rulers who have lived the high life while the people they are supposed to be ruling are suffering. Haven't you heard? Myanmar has a new capital, Naypidaw, in place of Yangon. If not for the typhoon, and Ban Ki Mun's visit to Myanmar, one would have thought that the Generals themselves lived in wooden huts. But no! They are staying at grand palaces freshly minted while millions of people are starving. Try putting yourselves in your people's shoes Than Shwe!!!

OK enough politics.

Are you kidding....I ain't done yet!

The recent banning of petrol sales to foreign vehicles are bound to hit our neighbours up north. No matter how much they deny, they can never run away that they depend a lot on us Singaporeans for their livelihood. Banning the sale of petrol is akin to biting the hand that feeds you. Granted that the Malaysian Federal budget is far more than what we Singaporeans spend, you can't help but sympathise with the seafood restaurants and the many food stalls that make up the landscape whose businesses who are sure to suffer.

Think about it. If Singaporeans are unable to fill up petrol while they shop and dine, then what's the point of going there in the first place? Part of the attraction of going to JB is not just the cheaper goods, it's also the cheap petrol. Taking away one will definitely make it less appealing for us to go there. Add in the appaling crime rates, a definite turn off is obvious. I don't see the need to go to JB for seafood an having to go through that terrible jam at the checkpoint but not able to top up my petrol.

I'm not surprised that there is an uproar within their ranks, concerned at the impact it might have, both economically and socially. Knowing the Malaysians, this ruling may not even be implemented in the long run especially with the implication it might have for the "little people". Thinking about it, the ban does not apply to motorcycles as they "spared a thought for the little people". I just wonder how the guys with bikes more powerful than many cars we have on our roads could qualify as little people when their bikes cost more than the homes of many Malaysians. Makes sense?

Well, much of what the Malaysians do doesn't make sense to me anyway. Personally, if they don't want us to benefit from their subsidies, so be it. The way I see it, if we Singaporeans have to resort to subsidised Malaysian petrol, we might as well don't have a car in the first place.

Ok I'm done mouthing off.....thanks for reading....heheheh