12
speak up!
Traders must heed
mood of consumers
T
HE PUMP prices for petrol and
diesel have come down yet again
and they are now closer to what
they were before they rocketed up in
June because of the price rise of crude
per barrel in the international market.
There is even the possibility that the
prices may yet fall to the pre-June
level.
The reduction announced on
Monday is the fifth since August. So
logically the prices of all those things
that went up on the back of the fuel
price increase on the claim of higher
transport costs due to more expensive
petrol and diesel should now come
down. But as is well known, there is
little logic in the rate of increases in the
cost of such items as food and services.
To avoid lowering prices and thereby
earn huge profits, the producers of
these items can always find recourse
through claiming that while the cost
of fuel or transport charges have
plummeted the other charges and the
prices of other components have gone
up. This has always been the case in
the past whenever the prices of fuel
or other important commodities shot
up suddenly.
Generally, the rakyat accept the
increases almost uncomplainingly. The
government too remained silent on the
increases; thereby giving tacit consent
to them. But in the face of the global
economic downturn, where recession-
ary conditions are already apparent
in some countries far and near, the
country would need all the help it can
thesun says
get to pull through the expected rough
patch ahead. The government has
appealed to all quarters to play their
part in averting a possible disaster
probably even much bigger than what
happened in 1997/98. For its part, the
government has reduced the ceiling
prices of rice, our main staple. It has
also rejected for the time being the
demand by bus operators to increase
their fares by as much as 100%. At the
same time, the government has also
appealed to consumers to remain
prudent in their use of petrol and diesel
despite the lower prices.
There is, thus, a great expectation
that other prices fixed by the private
sector would also come down. How-
ever, there had been little response
from the producers after the reduction
in the prices of fuel on Nov 1, Oct 15,
Sept 24 and Aug 23 despite appeals by
government, community leaders and
NGOs. Domestic Trade and Consumer
Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Samad
has appealed to traders and business-
men to reduce prices. Deputy Prime
Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has
made a similar appeal. Prime Minister
Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
was clearly disappointed when he said
that these traders and businessmen
had reaped huge profits as a result
of the hike in the prices of petrol and
diesel but are unwilling to help.
Indeed it would be to the advantage
of these traders and businessmen to
heed the mood of consumers and act
accordingly.
People are judged by
their words and deeds
Hyperdictionary.com describes
“perception” as:
» becoming aware of
something via the senses
» the process of perceiving;
the right » knowledge gained by
read perceiving; “a man
admired for the depth of his
perception”;
» a way of conceiving
something; “Luther had a
new perception of the Bible”; CitizenNades saviour for all the ills that have
» the representation of what is by R. Nadeswaran
perceived; basic component
in the formation of a concept.
YET again, today’s column is not an essay
on the English language but an insight into
the mind-set and thinking of some readers.
Love It is also a reflection on the ideals and
and war thoughts on people who are held in high
pg 20 esteem by our society.
By Monday afternoon, two readers
had written in; and yesterday, at an office
function, a couple of people asked me the
same question: “Have you been bought over
by (Tourism Minister) Datuk Seri Azalina
Othman Said?”
It was not a loaded question and it gave
me some inclinations as to how you are
perceived. They think money is a great
leveller, forgetting the issue involved and
focusing on the individual. They fail to
see the broad line. For them, it is not the
message but the messenger.
Must this column be always on the
short-comings of the Tourism Ministry?
When the minister makes a valid and
intelligent point, does she not need a pat
on the back? This column is not about
personalities, but on issues. If the minister
introduces a policy to bring the crooked
and the corrupt to book, shouldn’t she get
a standing ovation? Just because some
of the words which had appeared in this
column previously were critical of some
of the policies, it does not mean that the
policymakers have to be treated like the
plague?
What’s wrong in applauding Azalina for
her efforts to bring to book those who stole
money belonging to the people? Having
said that, let it be said that if other shady
dealings in the ministry or its agencies
come to the fore, this columnist will take
great pride in saying his piece.
As I told former Selangor Mentri Besar
Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo over
lunch on Feb 6: “I did NOT apply for state
land or for licences from the government.
Therefore, why should I have an agenda
against you?” To put it simply, if policies
and decisions are wrong, then it is only
proper to say so. In the same breath, I
would be the first to applaud him, as the
leader of the Opposition, if he comes up
with a brilliant proposal to create a better
society for all of us. That’s the way it works.
You are judged by your actions and your
words – not titles, prefixes or how you
dress or groom yourself.
As much as you have a right to disagree
letter
letters@thesundaily.com
Set direction for naming roads
AS THE controversy over the change of Jalan
Silibin to Jalan Patto continues, it is well for Ipoh
councillor M. Kulasegeran (also Ipoh Barat MP)
to bear in mind that the DAP was vociferous in
its condemnation of the same thing under the
previous government.
It was not that many years back when Ipoh
City Council had to reverse its decision to rename
Jalan Foo Chong Kong, Jalan Tabung Haji because
of public protests. The previous government took
heed of the public’s feelings and left the old
name intact. For the present authorities to say
that they will go ahead with renaming the road
despite public outcry, is arrogant and smacks of
double standards.
theSun | WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 19 2008
with my views (many of your
letters have been published
verbatim), let’s not go overboard
and think of the impossible.
This columnist expresses his
views without fear or favour.
Even some good friends have
had “dishonourable” mentions
in this column because they
did something wrong. And let
it be said again that I’m not the
afflicted our society. Neither am
I the conduit for a solution to all
the people’s problems. I am just
another scribe, doing what is expected of
me in the best possible way.
But I am faulting no one because like all
humans, I too have erred – making wrong
judgments based on perception. Before
March 8, some people whom I perceived
as “good people” have turned into rotten
apples. People who promised to “fight for
the people” have now brazenly become
“business-oriented”. Some have no qualms
in killing the messenger although the
same parties had previously shared a meal
together.
Last Friday, at the Petaling Jaya City
Council’s first “town hall” meeting, I
sat dumbfounded when people whom
I had perceived as “angels” became
chameleons, changing their colour at a
drop of a hat. It was a reality check of sorts.
They were quibbling over trivial matters
without understanding the nature and
the reason for such a meeting. One was
downright petty, to the embarrassment
of his colleagues. Another used political
statements to stifle his colleague’s attempts
to answer questions which were raised.
All went home with their own
perceptions of each other. Some
would have perceived me as an angry
man carrying his crusade for a clean
government from this column to the
meeting; others would have perceived
me as an obnoxious person who was only
trying to drive home what I perceived was
the right thing to do.
It’s all human nature, but there must be
consistency. If one day you are Dr Jekyll
and the next day you become Mr Hyde, the
majority will wonder if they have a lalang
as their leader – one who is willing to shift
his stand because there is some reward for
such actions at the end of the day.
What would you expect people to think
when one day you are submitting petitions
on their behalf, and on another, you are
pleading on behalf of the wrongdoer?
Are they judged by the size of their
bank accounts or by the manner in which
they conduct themselves? At the end of the
day, how many of them can go home and
have a good night’s sleep without their
conscience pricking them?
R. Nadeswaran is editor (special and
investigative reporting at theSun. He can be
reached at citizen-nades@thesundaily.com.
If one has to name a road after someone why
not name a new road. This way the public will not
have to bear the inconveniences and expense of
a name change and history will not be lost.
Guidelines must be set for naming roads so
that those in power do not abuse their positions
to name roads after people on their party list or
to curry favour from royalty or businessmen who
have contributed to their party’s coffers.
The PR government has sold itself as a
“listening” government. It is time they start
listening to the public.
Yin Ee Kiong
Penang