I don’t know about you but it has been ages since I last boarded a public bus. It’s so long ago that I am not even aware of the fares to board a public bus now. I think it was RM0.90 during the days when I used to take Intrakota buses. As for LRT and monorail, I do take them occasionally, but mainly because I am very sure that I will not be able to find a parking space at my destination. If not, it’s usually because I am meeting someone at destination.Yes, I am part of a big and growing population of Malaysians who are spoilt with the luxury of having my own car. Are you one of us?
When I wrote about the increasing prices of crude oil a few weeks ago, everyone was astonished and of course, we all agreed that an increase in domestic petrol price is imminent. Many are speculating that the next increase will be significant… very significant.
Why?... Well, where else is the government going to get the funding to have economic region left right and centre? Also, they need to send another tourist to space, remember? And this is on top to of the fact that the increase will have to make up for the losses suffered for not increasing petrol price till the end of 2007. So like it or not, the next increase should be a really painful one.
But really, how much will the imminent increase impact our driving habit?Many commented in that entry that they will probably cut down on a lot of expenses in view of the imminent increase and some even said they are probably going to start riding bicycles. Now, I do not doubt the significance of an increase in petrol price, but I do doubt that it will actually impact our driving habit.
Let’s do a simple calculation…
Let’s say an average car which can house about 40 litres of petrol. That would need RM76.80 to fill up its tank at the current petrol price.
For analysis purposes, let’s say the price increases to RM3 per litre. That will mean RM120 is needed to fill the tank, an increase of RM43.20 for each full tank. I have asked around and I found out that an average Malaysian driver pumps about 4 full tanks a month. This translates to an additional petrol cost of RM172.80 per month.
So tell me… for an additional RM172.80 per month, are you going to get yourself amongst the crowd in the LRT everyday? For an additional RM171.80 per month, are you going to start riding bicycle? For an additional RM171.80 per month… are you seriously going to stop driving?
Let’s not kid ourselves. Most if not all of us will still be willing to get our ass stuck in countless hours of traffic jam even if petrol goes up to as high as RM3 per litre. We Malaysians are car freaks and if 2 – 3 hours of traffic jam a day can't stop us from driving, you think about RM200 can? You got to be kidding me…And I dare say that even if petrol is to increase to RM4 per litre which translate into approximately RM332.80 extra a month, we will all still continue to drive. Despite the abundant complaints about petrol price, I think it will have no impact to our driving lifestyle… not at all.
**Here is wishing all Hindu readers of AZAIG a very Happy Deepavali**
60 comments:
Very depressing... how liddat?
hi zewt,
i beg to differ. i think with increasing cost of driving, many of us contemplate NOT TO DRIVE. However, given the urban design of our cities, in particular Klang Valley, it is nearly IMPOSSIBLE to commute on public transportation without being a)sweating ur ass off b)late for work c)get harassed, robbed, perhaps raped. d) Late again e) sacked (constant lateness).
So, what options we have? I thnik malaysians in general would be more transport conscious. Ideally, citizens would demand for better public transportations (rather than fuel subsidies), and better public projects management. Consider the funds required to build the useless stretch of highway (e.g. Port Dickson-PLUS highway, or NPE etc)...the time is high to invest significantly into our public transportation WITHOUT...WITHOUT Millions of dollars of waste. Any learned man/woman on the street would know that our public projects are marked up by at least 50% for "unaccountable for" cost.
Fuel price increase..Yes..it ll hit us..badly.
Inflation > Stagnant Wage > Decreasing Living Standard > Poverty >>>
>>>>
A few rich anak Datuks living like Kings while the rest of us slaved ourselves for them.
I love my COuntry.
Thats why work from home is a good alternative. Too bad our country doesn't practice that and would prolly abuse it.
if .. let's say if .. if our country do have more flexi public transport connection like our neighbor country then i'll choose for not driving .. but the if doesn't exist .. so i have to drive.
in my leaving area .. i have to walk 15min to get a bus ride.. LRT more serious maybe need 30min+ to reach .. so die lo .. if everyday have to walk 15min + to get a bus .. how if i'm going back late ?? so .. the choice is .. have to drive ownself .
Hmmmm...
I think not many of us would opt for public transportation unless we have to.
However, despite more people taking up public transportation, my concern is that these bus/lrt/etc companies are not going to increase the number of buses to meet the demand. Why? Because they do not want to sacrifice the bottom line. Perhaps they may not be able to afford the new buses because of the rising fuel cost as well.
For some of us modern slaves who do travel on a regular basis, i.e. Sales n etc.. this is certainly going to be bad news...
i cant believe how some impudent fools are talking as if its the end of the world. try driving in hong kong or singapore for 1 month and youll know what it means to be hit BADLY by petrol fuel price.
point is, its bad but dont exaggerate la
maegen > i hope u know what ure talking about. ive been to us, thailand, singapore, hong kong, china, japan and macau and theyre all the same as malaysia, u still have to walk to the fucking stations. u katak di bawah tempurung sila jangan cakap banyak okay
RM171.80 heh? so my salary increment next year must take this into account, and the multiplying effect of it. man, seriously.. for me if the public transport is there, effective enough I for sure will put my car at home. I hate to drive haha! Hmm.. Our public transportation really that bad heh? Cos I remember talking to a friend, she said it is okay, it gets you to the place you want to go.. so not bad lah..... (I didn't know how to reply her...)
I agree that there's no way the increment of petrol prices is going to stop people from changing their driving lifestyle, simply because there's just no other feasible alternatives for considerations.
This will directly impact the spending power of the average joe, whereby daily goods and items would have rose to new heights (due to the same petrol increment) and there's much less money to go about to spend on other areas.
When policymakers increase price of petrol, the last thing they have in their mind is the very people who depends on it for their livelihood.
what? salary increment to adjust petrol prices? at the rate prices of everything are increasing (afterall, even the average mamak drinks you are getting would see another round of price increase), it is merely an inflation adjusted salary. your actual purchasing power would just decrease further and your dream of getting a home, car and such will continue to fade further and further away.
and what about the plans by DBKL to impose entry into KL city tolls? i am quite sure that + the petrol price increase + increase in prices of all other items would hit everyone badly one way or other.
sigh...
oh , no way I'm going to be on the dirty, smelly and overcrowded LRT.
Have you taken one recently? It's disturbing.
It actually depend on how 'rich' or 'affordable' u r. Yes I actually use my bike to work except on rainny day. No traffic jam but I can't really use bicycle as I discover part of my jorney to work is guarded by a pack og dogs!! Yes! I did try using bicycle to work & nearly got eaten by this pack of dogs!
Yes! I agree with u that most will just continue to drive to work. As usual boleh land people are mostly NATO!!!Sorry if I sound a bit harsh in this comment! But it is a sad fact, one little starfish throw back to the sea don't really made an impact!( I better go & read my own 'hor ny' post so that I don't feel so depress )
Have a nice day!
I take the public bus daily. Each time i wake up, I always wish tat I have my own car..Why is tat? So tat I don't need to wake up so early! then while im waiting for bus, i wish tat the bus will come at the right time (not too early or too late) as I don't want to wait for bloody 1hr+ while standing! Then when the bus come, I wish I have a seat to sit and don't want to stand as some bus drivers r idiots when driving. U cant imagine the humiliation when u frigidly wobble to the left or right or u were thrown further away frm where u were standing as the bus driver SUDDENLY BRAKE after going so fast! Yea..I wish alot when Im taking the bus..lolz..
So, yea..i wish i am spoilt with the luxury of a car too..if petrol goes high up, then i guess its a price to pay. But then..sitting lrt is not so bad..can take it once awhile but not during peak hrs..tats the killer! lolz..
mayb to us, it's not that big a deal. just cut back on other expenses to continue funding this expensive habit. but for those ppl who couldn't and shouldn't afford to be driving in the first place, it'll be the hair that broke the camel's back. like the man working as chauffer who is the only breadwinner and has 7 mouths to feed, he shldn't be feeding this luxury in the first place. i remembered when i was driving a decade ago, there were so many motorcycles on the road. sooooo many that when the light turned green, we had to wait half a minute for all of them to go first. now, u can count the few. perhaps our society, on the whole, has already become too well-off? balance is the way of nature. you get good years and you get bad, you get deflation and then u get inflation. life's a cycle. let's hope deflation is not too far off.
what to do, public transport sucks! mmain reason, because people don't queue up, people push around, and people don't give up their seats for the needy.
i think the main complaint for the increase of petrol price is not the burden on our wallets..it's the "mm gum yuin" attitude of individuals that the gomen is getting more money (or is rugi-ing less)..for me at least..i'd rather they compensate for the petrol than they giving all the money to potential mat rempits
speaking of which..i think mat rempits will be affected. they can't afford hotels anymore cos they'd rather pump petrol..oh wait..or do they go screwing each other's girls behind bushes after they rob some innocent old auntie? ahh..screw this cunt-tree..
zewt,pernah pegi puduraya ka? ambik bas dekat sana?
tell u,kalau transport minister or any minister yg kene ambik bus from there everyday,guarantee diaorang akan berusaha dengan bersungguh-sungguh untuk memperbaiki public transport kat mesia ni.
since all the ministers tak kene bayar petrol,jem..naik LRT dan sebagainya-dun expect things will change la.
none of em werk for us.they werk for themselves first-and forever.
actually,i hate numbers+RM+fuel.too lazy to calculate.typical malay i am.:P
cars are a necessary evil
Zewt, I agree with you. Regardless of how much the oil price hike up, we will still drive our cars. And we will still rant. And our life still go on. Period.
Zewt,
If petrol increase to $4 a litre, I'm sure many can't drive anymore. Their salaries will be just enough to pay the petrol bills. The nation will then watch a revolution and uprising. Believe me, petrol and fuel price increase will bring down a government (example: Suharto's Indonesia)
zewt,
I am riding motorbikes now. The Honda Cub for short distances. The Suzuki Scrambler for bad roads and off roads. For even shorter distances I use bicycles. Pedal power is the way to go to beat rising fuel prices. Bicycles anybody?
no farking choice... work harder some more lah.
need to drive to my favourite watering hole for cold beers & siew g.
I worked for a very short while in a company based near Puduraya. At first I tried taking the LRT. I still need to drive to LRT station and pay for parking daily. Then I tried walking out to take the bus. That was okay, coz the buses to KL are quite regular where I stay.
But I found that even though I'm not driving, by the time I get home I'm more tired. I preferred to drive (since traffic wasn't too bad) as it was more comfortable being in my own car, with my own music and setting my own pace. It doesn't drain me as much as taking public transport. Go figure.
There you are... I am one of those who just likes to drive. If the jams are bad, that's another matter, though.
In reference to Jasonphoon's comment about the overcrowded LRT... at peak hours, people are packed into it like sardines. So, doesn't every vehicle have a safety standard of the max no. of people it can carry? Even lifts (elevators) have that. I forsee that one of these days there will be a massive accident due to overloading. Something will give way somewhere. And then the government will be horrified and order an enquiry and some licences will be suspended etc. And then life will go back to normal with the overcrowded LRT.
I agreed that if the diff is between 100-200, then most of us may not be impacted & will not change our driving lifestyle. BUT if the increase is more than 300, then i bet many pple who'r now struggling to drive or afford a kancil or viva, will have to quit driving...coz they are left with simply no other choices, it's affordability!
zewt,
i live in sentul, a mere 5 mins walk to the lrt station and another 15 or 20 mins ride on the lrt till i reach masjid jamek, where my office is. the lrt coming from sentul into the city are not crowded at all so its a relaxing journey for me, daily.
i do own a car too, which i only drive on weekend or on the trip back to hometown. i put my average petrol consumption at one tank per month or rm70.00. so i guess im a malaysian who wont have any issue should the price of the petrol increase.
unless, the mamak decide to raise their roti canai price on collateral reason or the makcik nasi lemak think they should charge more for the daun pisang affected by the fuel hike.
the govt is fighting a losing battle trying to control the petrol price with the subsidy. after all the source of money paid as subsidy originally comes from the taxes and excise duties. which mean the money that come from our pocket, indirectly of course.
i say let the price move freely as per market influence. we will save a lot of money by not paying the subsidy and provided the govt is wise in their planning and spending, use it to develop our public transportation system, build better road and enforce better road safety measure.
and why not since the govt had save a lot by not paying the fuel subsidy maybe they can drop the excessive tax and duty on non-national car too.
but of course with the current trend of govt spending habit, perhaps it wiser to have them use those taxes and duties to pay for the subsidy since we know they would waste the people's money on spending another space tourist, buying old russian spacecraft, the economic region left and right so their cronies got a lot of project opportunities or maybe another hundred million ringgit palace for the royals...
well, just my 2 kupang...
p/s: sorry for the long comment, for a moment i thought i was writing on my own blog :p
the thing of hiking fuel price is i dont get it when people rushing to the nearest gas station and full em up. like after that x yah nak isi minyak. sigh.
u might still feel like driving to work when u come to aus, but i daresay that public transport here is so encouraging that u wun even think of getting a car as an urgent matter.
when a house is burning, you should be thinking about how to stop the fire.
but sadly, that's not what all malaysian politicians are doing.
adelaide (a tiny city) boasts over 1 million people, yet, they have no problem with traffic jam and such not because they have huge roads, but because they improve the bus and tram service so well that ppl would rather save their bucks and catch the public transport instead. what can i say? why aren't malaysians catching the public transport?
1. because they suck
2. as much as i hate to say this, malaysians are selfish!
you are right...maybe we should be encouraging alternatives for petrol!!
since increasing of price is inevietable, then better start looking for alternatives!
I will be taking our public transportation system this month when I start my new job... it's cheaper overall, but I worry about those times if I have to work late. Not very safe leh...
Oh. I agree very much with ehon. Very very true. It's a very pitiful situation here in Malaysia.
haha, riding bicycles most probably no. But i think if the petrol price go up, I will think twice of driving to places like KLCC..where the LRT station is like just right there. If it goes to RM4, i think i will really really think three times. haha..
i can see the fuel price hike is eating into everyone's pocket ... depending on situation and the criticality of us needing to drive on our own, somehow we still have a choice on this matter ...
but another thing which can't be avoid or beyond our control is the chain-reaction due to the hike ... if you think the current bread, roti canai, teh tarik, char kuew teow etc prices are getting ridiculous, wait till you see the after-effect from the next fuel hike ...
oh yeah, i forgotten about the toll, gas and electricity possible hike ... everything will accumulate and surprises you even further ... but then that's after the election ..
cheers ...
The one whom will hurt almost is no other than our low paid worker – janitor, clerk, office boy etc!
Their salary only ranging from 500 to 900 ringgit; how these people lives if the price of the controlled item such as petrol, food –rice and cost of housing are increasing!
May god protects them!
From your analysis of Rm3 per litre x 40 litres =Rm120 per week x 4=Rm480 per mth.Those earning Rm2000 per mth that would be 24% of our wages + another 30%=Rm600 to service our car loan + toll + parking fees and etc.
How to survive lah dei?
You said it. Petrol prices will go up here too. Inevitable. People won't stop driving, I'm sure. At best, the shock of increased prices will last 2 weeks. :)
But what'll hit us harder will be inflation because of increased transportation costs. When everyday things become more expensive, people will surely feel the heat. Dreading it. :(
I for one wouldn't mind taking the public transport if only our fellow citizens are more sympathetic towards pregnant ladies and of course mothers... There was one I was carrying my baby and towing a toddler in a sardine packed LRT. NO ONE budged to make way for us or moved their big fat a** for us. I have to carry my toddler as well to avoid her suffocating from all those smelly a** surrounding her.
Thank God it's only 3 stations. That's the 1st and last time we're taking public transport. Kudos to our 'considerate' citizens.
I would still be driving no matter how high the petrol price are.
I've something for you...Come & claim ya...
http://thesoons.blogspot.com/2007/11/happy-blogging-day-to-happy-blogger.html
Actually I do think the fact many KL peeps are not relying on pubic transport is the fact our public transport is not convenient enough.
My hubby is staying in the city and public transport is a life saver. It's fast and it's much much better than getting stuck in the jam.
People whom are staying in places without the convenience of LRTs don't have a choice. :-)
You are right. The increase in petrol price won't deter us to drive. But, if you calculate how much has the price hiked for the past years, then may be you will start to think should I cut down my driving as well. Furthermore, not only petrol price is hiking. All the other necessities also see drastic increase in price. The only thing that does not increase is the salary of you and I.
Malaysian mentality is that everywhere must be driven to... no parking doesnt even matter just double/triple park in front of the shop until someone come and horn you, then say sorry everything..OK LA! I moan quite alot about public transport but the fact is, in KL its just absolutely useless, unshaded, unmarked bus stops with no map of route, Hot buses with air con broken, no centralisation or integration of exchange points, An LRT system that doesnt go anywhere where people actually live. A recent friend from overseas told me that it seems that in KL you never see any people on the streets, only cars. Go to HK, Singapore or Taipei and see what proper public transport is about.
Another good piece from you, Zewt. Kudos!
angel - the world is a depressing place to be after all.
rational thinker - well, i will still go by my stand that we will forever be looking for reasons to stay behind the wheel. seriously... if someone offers to fetch you around in singapore, will you object. oh yes, i love my country too.
Sue Anne - hi there and welcome to AZAIG. not many has that luxury though. and i am sure many corporations dont really prefer that.
maegen - hmmm... seriously, would you really not drive if the public transport is better? i think that remain to be seen.
Angie Tan - i personally think we blame the public transport too conveniently. will certainly blog about this point. but i do admit, the current public transport is a shame.
tingtitlei - it is still bad la. just that, it wont stop us from driving.
whatthefuck - hey man, be nice to a lady la.
bongkersz - there you go... i think it's just us not wanting to take public transport.
YC - hey there and welcome to AZAIG. well, i think they have more important things to worry about than the welfare of an average joe... dont u think?
anon @ 7.30am - i still think it wouldnt. we malaysian love cars too much to give it up for anything less than... maybe 1000 a month?
jason phoon - there you go... lol!
hor ny - shit... then must find a way to stop those dogs! yeah, we only know how to complain, then everything will be back to normal.
missironic - so LRT is better than bus eh? will be really interested to see the actual impact of the increase.
me - yeah... i think to many of us blog readers, it would be a big impact. i go agree that there will be a huge population affected, but i doubt ppl will not drive.
Huei - that's right... couldnt agree more. it's not about paying more. it's about us... not feeling satisfied... the mm gum yun feeling. at the end of the day... will still drive. if not, seriously sell all our cars meh?
j or ji - hahaha... i am sure there will be a time when you need to calculate already. dont talk about ministers ler... u know i know they all different class already.
wuching - yet... necessary.
princess eileen - most definitely. that's the whole point.
Maverick SM - i dont think we can compare our ppl with indonesians. the population who can afford to incur additional 500 bucks per month here is just too big. besides... look at the way we spend in new shopping malls. 500 bucks is nothing really.
Zawi - hahaha... tell u a secret... i only learn how to cycle not too long ago. :P
anon @ 12.33pm - work harder ah... life will not get any better wan woh...
sunflower / irene - yeah, i have colleagues who would rather stuck in traffic than to be stucked in a bus during traffic, that's the whole thing. traffic jam is one of the evil. the public transport can improve, but the jam will never. as for your reply to jason... haha... usual la.
sharlydia - nope, i would still think... ppl wil drive nonetheless.
lucius maximum - one thing i must say... no matter how the govt improve the roads or public transport system, there is one thing which the govt cant control... number of cars. and the ironny is... cars must increase as it reflects automotive industry growth. jam will be a result and it will then... back to square one. i know what you mean, it is still about wise spending.
alan zed - hahaha... kiasu attitude.
Jun - i know... that's what my fiance says all the time.
Ehon - i prefer to go on number 2... every idiot is waiting for another idiot to take public transport so that he can own the road. right?
lynnwei - the world power will not allow an alternative to petrol. it's a world conspiracy. will certainly blog about this.
rinnah - yeah... taht is another thing to consider... safety.
Seaqueen - more like number 2 right?
AngryYoungChild - sure or not? i shall wait and see.
stocktube - yup... malaysian businessman... chinese especially... will be like vultures in making the best out of the situation. after election, we will face the full blown effect.
Sultanah Yue - hi there and welcome. well, if they are earning 500 to 900... they souldnt be owning a car, if they are... then... i must say... serve them right. dont u think so?
penang-kia - trust me... see those ppl buying all the branded stuff and especially girls having all those LV bags? they arent earning much u know.
rashikaps - definitely... but we will not blame the increase in others things to our driving habit... there will be no link to it. we malaysians (or indians) love driving too much.
kerry - hello, how are u? well, that is a problem beyong petrol price.... it's our malaysian attitude. will take another generation to solve perhaps. thanks, i shall go and have a look.
Helen - this is just an excuse... if we are honest enough, we will admit to it.
jam - i think malaysians wuld rather eat less than to not drive... i think that's how extreme it will be.
friendfromtaiwan - hahahaha... not many ppl have the luxury to be there la. anyway, u know i know... why the transport system here sucks... right?
lynnx01 - thanks... i like to make ppl think. and hope it did.
zewt, remember my story abt last sunday? on tue we finally needed to fill up and off we went to shell. guess how much it cost now? 3.11! imagine tht! on sat it was 2.99, on sunday up to 3.03 and on tue up again! sheesh! :(
some cities (LA and such) already see the price per gallon as high as 4.25. thank god we use electricity for heat.
If i must choose between paying more for petrol or public transportation, i'll still choose paying more for petrol. Driving on our own is more comfortable. I remember when i used to take bus to go to work, it really sucked. There was one time, i start to wait for the bus at 5pm and arrived home at 10pm, from PJ to Selayang. I was soooooo angry and pissed..
So, as long as i can afford it, i'll still drive on my own..
PS: Are they serious about the second angkasawan thing?
Yea..LRT is definitely better than bus..u dun have to wait sooo long for the tren, then although u r standing u wont lose ur stand once u got hold of the ground. I so much prefer LRT..i all the while dun like buses..lolz..
princessjournals - hi there again... and gee... a sudden increase again? now... if such things were to happen in malaysia, havoc will be imminent. i guess letting market forces control the prices do have its downside huh...
seok thong - there you go... i think we have grown accustomed to driving... those who used to drive just wont give it up easily. yeah... the second pelawat angkasa is as real as it gets.
missironic - hahaha... reminds me of the mini buses days... sometimes i like the racing part of mini buses...
lolz..2fast2furious ala mini buses! :P
missironic - oh yeah... i miss those days.
It won't do much difference to my driving style, really. Maybe, just maybe, I'll *consider* taking the Komuter more often (whenever possible, and more convenient). But it's more likely that I'll still exploit the *convenience* of driving my own car.
narrowband - now that is what i called an honest answer.
I was one of the spoilt Malaysians who had my own car, but it's now up for sale back home and I take public transport here every day. car is now a luxury to me -- cheap to own, but epxensive to maintain. and anyway, it's so easy to get around on buses and trains here. in Malaysia I would think it's more of a necessity than a luxury.
Y'all are selfish and spoilt driving in your single occupancy vehicles. An LRT is way cleaner than the mamak you'd choose to hang out with your friends late at night. Again, why do you need to hang out SO late? Why not go home before the public transport service ends?
The one thing I think would be paramount to making change is to tax them SOVs. We may live nearby colleagues but we're antisocial and selfish.
If a place is out of the way of public transport... ask yourself why you need to go there. Even if you had a car, and your friends asked you to go to some far out place, you wouldn't go anyway.
I walk. I take the bus and LRT. I'm doing a service to the country by not adding to the number of inconsiderate drivers on the road or making it hard to park. Inconsiderate? Please, we're inconsiderate wherever we go, whether we're on a bus or in a car.
may - yeah, it has become a necessity... and we conveniently allow it... cos we enjoy it :)
anon @ 11.37pm - yeah... though i am a SOV fella... i think we should be taxed... we need to be pushed to do something about this 'crisis'.
Our country needs to improve public transportation lo... :P
jayce - u sure u will use the improved public transport then? :)
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