In light of the current price hikes in petrol and diesel, the standard of living will be badly hit. As a matter of fact, the standard of living will go down and inflation will happen. That is the effect of the government's decision to increase the petrol prices, as said by former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Tun Dr M said that the prices, after the increase are still significantly lower than first world countries like the US and UK. He said "But our per capita income is about one-third of theirs. In purchasing power terms, our increase is more than in the UK or the US,"

He suggested that the government should have floated the ringgit as a precautionary move, which will help lessen the people's burden. He said "A floating rate creates uncertainties and we cannot gain anything from the strengthened ringgit. Certainly the people have not experienced any increase in their purchasing power because of the appreciation in the rate between the US dollar and ringgit. But since the Government wanted to please the International Monetary Fund and World Bank by floating the ringgit, the result of the strengthening of the ringgit merely increased the cost of exports without lowering the cost of imports."

Dr M's son, Datuk Mukhriz said that the government had over-reacted to the artificially-inflated world prices and that the subisdies would not be as effective if only the authorities formulated strategies which can cushion the impact. He added that "The rakyat is already burdened by the rising cost of living. We cannot justify the increase by saying that our fuel price is still lower than Singapore,"

Another hike?Comparing to our naibhours like Singapore and Thailand? The governmen should not compare Malaysia with Singapore and Thailand in the first place simply because those two countrys doesnt produce oil and Malaysia do. The governmnet should compare the oil prices with countries in midle east which producess oil.

becoz he thinks that malaysian just like katak di bawah tempurung, never read world news one.

I think it won't affect standard of living at all. After another half year it will become normal (That's our government's thinking)

ya lor.. just like this year election right? tot BN will be like past history will win but then this year really the sad history for BN.

malaysian now used to it anymore. please wake up.

the "used to" this words cannot be applied into malaysian culture anymore.

anyone notice petronas petro station less customer pumping petro already? just my curiosity becoz heard that some malaysian wanna boycott petronas.

now it is time for Malaysia to wake up to change and to reform

hope that sumone could stand out to save Malaysia from bring destroy by BN.
praying hard that Anwar Ibrahim will be the six PM and justify Malaysia back to the right track.