Will Life ever be the same again...??

Wed 24/09/08

This afternoon the present Govt announced that fuel prices at the pumps would be cut by 10 sen wef midnight tonight.

In case yu have forgotten, fuel prices were jacked up a whopping 41% in June this year!! That sudden jump resulted in a chain reaction of price increases in practically every thing one can think of. And, prices of goods are still increasing...with Inflation reported officially as at 8.7% in August! Frankly, in reality...to the man-in-the-street, there is no way than anyone can convince him that inflation is only at 8.7%.

For example...A simple bowl of mee now costs at least 20 sen more...20 sen of RM1.60 is....?? percent??? Also a piece of Roti Canai was 80sen/pc but now RM1/pc...also a 20sen increase. However, what percentage is 20sen out of 80sen? Only 8.7%? Me feel that your maths is much better than that of the Govt. Ha ha! Btw prices of most items had gone up by even more...

Good news? Or just a sweet for all the "kids" in the country? Last month, fuel prices were lowered by 15 sen...a mere 5.6%. Now...today, a further drop of only 3.9%. Don't we have a long way to go before it ever reaches the 41% rise in June?

Co-incidence or otherwise...the first fuel price reduction was announced before the Permatang Pauh parliamentary by-election. This second announcement came just before Hari Raya Aidil Fitri. Guess we have to wait for another "good" day or event for another fuel price drop...hehe...

Back to our present scenario. And yup, the important point here is....did prices of goods & foods go down proportionately when fuel prices were reduced last month? Nope. Don't think so. Will those prices be lowered accordingly now with the further reduction of fuel prices at the pumps this time around? Nope. Don't think so either.

So, where do we stand now? Are we better off or worse? YOU tell me...

Ah yes...there was the Govt offer of cash rebates to vehicle owners when there was a hue & cry after the whopping fuel increases in June...when there were street protests & even calls to the PM to quit by certain quarters. Well, you might have been luckier than me. Yup, you might have got the said rebate. But not me. One only gets the rebate of RM625 for owners of vehicles up to 2000 cc after one renews the vehicle licence (road tax). Mine is only due for renewal in March 2009. A long long wait...

In the meantime, me will still be paying what is the official fuel pump price, from me own pocket. And, hopefully, that rebate will still be there when the time comes for me to submit my claim for it. Wish me luck lo...

Anyway, come January 2009, our "Kay Pa" had already promised us a 20% recalculation of our pensions...namely a revision for all civil servants who had served 30 or more years. And luckily, me & my other half fit nicely into that offer. Actually we both had more than 30 years of service in our records. And this 20% increase is truly something of value for 100% pensioners like us! Something to really look forward to...

Hopefully, by then, the inflation rate would not have reached the sky... at least not up to the 20% we would be getting. Or else we would be back in square one!

Finally, my SIL would be celebrating his Bday this year on this coming Sat., Sept 27th. Happy Birthday, Lg!! May there be better times & more love in the years ahead for you & fmly...and esp so with the beautiful daughter who is definitely a joy to be with & to share...

Have a great weekend soon, everyone!! And, Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri to all our Muslim friends...Be safe.