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Petronas is too important to the nation. Petronas is the backbone of the Malaysian economy. Without Petronas this country would be dead. Should something that important be under the control of just one man where even Parliament has no say over it?
NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin
We should not worry so much about the petrol price increase. Even if Pakatan Rakyat had formed the federal government and even if Anwar Ibrahim had become the prime minister we would have still suffered this price increase. So is it fair to target Abdullah Ahmad Badawi singly for this petrol price increase?
The blame for the increase in the price of petrol should not be placed on the shoulders of one man and it should be seen within a bigger picture rather than in isolation. Could Abdullah Ahmad Badawi have done anything about it even if he wanted to? Or is Abdullah Ahmad Badawi a victim of circumstances, who anyone who was heading the government today would also have to endure?
It is very easy to blame someone else for our problems. Who, after all, would want to admit that he or she is the problem? And the most unpopular move a government can make is a move that affects your pocket.
Do anything. Kill detainees in the police lockup. Detain political opponents and dissidents without trial on the lame excuse that they are threats to national security. Spend billions of the nation’s money on white elephants and monumental projects. Siphon out billions of Ringgit in ‘commissions’ from government projects and stash the money in numbered Swiss bank accounts. Kill of all the Rainforests. Mess up the environment. In short, do whatever you want. Just don’t put any strain on my pocket. The instant you touch my pocket, then, and only then, will I rise up in anger. That is the mentality of the Malaysian Rakyat.
We should not get upset with the increase in the price of petrol. What we should get upset about is the fact that over 34 years since 1974, Malaysia has earned an estimated RM2 trillion in oil revenue. I say ‘estimated’ because that is the only basis we can use in figuring out what the actual amount is. Petronas’ accounts are not published and are not tabled before Parliament. According to the Petroleum Development Act 1974, Petronas need not make its accounts public. Petronas need not even report to anyone, not even to Parliament. Petronas reports to just one man, the Prime Minister of Malaysia.
Petronas is too important to the nation. Petronas is the backbone of the Malaysian economy. Without Petronas this country would be dead. Should something that important be under the control of just one man where even Parliament has no say over it? That is what we should be angry about. We should not be angry that the price of petrol has increased. It is not Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s fault.
Okay, if we want to still be angry with Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, then let us be angry about the fact that just before the 8 March 2008 general election the government promised the voters that the price of petrol would not be increased. Then, even before 100 days after the general election, they go and increase it. They lied to us. They led us to believe that if we voted for them the price of petrol would not be increased. Then, after 50% or so of Malaysians voted for them, they go and increase the price of petrol. If they had been honest and had said that as soon as the general election is over they will increase the price of petrol, then 50% of Malaysians would not have voted for them. If they had been honest and had said that as soon as the general election is over they will increase the price of petrol, then more than five states would have fallen to Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan Nasional would no longer be the federal government.
Yes, that we can be angry about, if we want to be angry about something. Be angry that they lied to us. Be angry that they got 50% of Malaysians to vote for them under false pretences. But we should not be angry with Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for increasing the price of petrol when he really had no choice in the matter.
I am not angry about the increase in the price of petrol when Abdullah Ahmad Badawi could not avoid increasing it. I am angry that he was forced to increase it. Why was he forced to increase it? And what happened to the estimated RM2 trillion that Petronas has earned over 34 years since 1974? And why are the accounts not made public or tabled before Parliament? Was not Petronas set up through an Act of Parliament via the Petroleum Development Act 1974? Therefore, should not Parliament have the power and authority to demand that Petronas table its accounts before Parliament? Why are the accounts secret? And why should Petronas report to only one man?
Petronas should be turned into a pubic listed company. Petronas should be called Petroleum Malaysia Berhad or Petromas Bhd or PMB and it should be listed on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange and its accounts should be made public like all other public companies. Then PMB must hold annual general meetings and all shareholders who hold even just one share should be allowed to attend these AGMs and be allowed to ask questions. And the Directors of PMB should be both nominees of the majority shareholders (meaning the government) plus representatives of the minority shareholders (meaning you and me who hold just one share or one lot of shares). And the Directors of PMB (in particular those representing the minority shareholders) should be appointed at the AGMs. And if the shareholders are not happy with the Directors, then the shareholders can remove them via an EGM if the minimum requirements for an EGM are met.
That is what should be done, but is not done, and that is what we should be angry about. We should not be angry about the increase in the price of petrol when the increase is unavoidable and Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has really no other alternative. And we should also be angry about the fact that Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had no alternative but to increase the price of petrol. And we must not forget to also be angry about the matter of the estimated RM2 trillion that Petronas has earned over 34 years since 1974. And we must certainly be angry about the fact that we do not really know how much money Petronas has earned over 34 years since 1974 or what happened to the money. And we must remember to be angry about the fact that Petronas need not table its accounts or report to Parliament and about the fact that only one man, the Prime Minister, knows what is going on in Petronas and how much it has really earned and where all that money has gone to.
Oh, and since we are in the mood of getting angry, let us also get angry about the estimated RM30 billion that Terengganu has earned, which we do not know where the money has gone, and about the estimated RM30 billion that Sabah and Sarawak have also earned, which we also do not know where the money has gone. And let us also get angry about the estimated RM1 trillion that Petronas paid the government by way of corporate tax, which we also do not know where the money has gone. Furthermore, let us also get angry about the estimated RM900 billion or so that Petronas did not pay Terengganu, Sabah, Sarawak, or the federal government by way of corporate tax, which we also do not know where the money has gone.
Yes, let us get angry about all that. But let us not get angry about the increase in the price of petrol because this is just the end result of all the other things we should really be angry about but somehow are not. And let us not blame Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for increasing the price of petrol. It is not Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s fault. He has no alternative but to increase the price of petrol. Instead, we should be angry with ourselves. We kept quiet over 34 years since 1974. We did not care what they did with Petronas over 34 years since 1974. We did not bother to ask what they are doing with the estimated RM2 trillion of Petronas’ money. We did not demand that the public or Parliament get to peep into Petronas’ accounts. We just continued voting for Barisan Nasional over 34 years since 1974 without a care in the world. We should be angry with ourselves for the increase in the price of petrol, not with Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
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The Blogs 
You shift the blame to the voters who voted UMNO/BN?
Well, I agree with that though it may not be the entirety.
So, those who voted the UMNO/BN deserve it, while unfortunately it caused the rest of the rakyat hardship.