Media Statement
by Lim Guan Eng

(Petaling Jaya, Tuesday): DAP express surprise and disquiet at Transparency International Malaysia(TI) new Chair Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam’s open criticism of fuel hikes protests by trade unions, workers and Malaysia public as unjustified as the government had already explained the rationale behind the reasons for the subsidy reduction. Ramon further added that such street protests should stop to avoid the risk of social unrest.

For a chair of a respected body such as Transparency International to support the government in violently suppressing peaceful protestors is most uncharacteristic and contrary to the full participatory democratic institutional practice that TI pursues. Ramon is wrong as the street protests had always been peaceful and orderly.

The police had provoked a peaceful and orderly gathering with beatings and arrests. I had witnessed such police violence in the demonstration organized by MTUC in the Kuala Lumpur City Centre on Sunday where peaceful protestors were beaten with long canes, pushed around by horses and hosed with water cannons. None of the protestors retaliated or were violent even though a child as young as 9 was also arrested.

If there is any social unrest, it is from the police and not the ordinary Malaysians who have valid concerns about their livelihood due to the high cost of living. For Ramon to criticize a right to protest is a great disservice to democracy and basic human rights. Further Ramon is also wrong to endorse the government’s actions in increasing fuel prices when they have not properly explained the rationale for such fuel hikes.

Ramon must understand that the public is not convinced that the RM 4.4 billion in fuel subsidies from the 30 cents fuel hike will be used for their benefit either in the form of development projects or improvement in public transport. Billions of ringgit of fuel subsidies savings from the 5 previous fuel hikes two years ago did not witness any significant benefit to the people.

The government has a moral obligation to distribute Petronas profits as such oil revenue belong to Malaysians to help them reduce their financial hardships. Malaysians can get nearly RM 2,000 ringgit each per year should the profits be distributed. For 2004, RM 35.5 billion in Petronas profits would amount to RM 1,500 per person. However not a single cent was given.

If a non-oil exporter like Singapore can give S$2.6 billion (RM 6 billion) cash to all Singaporeans, especially the poor, why can’t the Malaysian government do so when Petronas has earned nearly RM 500 billion since its inception in 1971? Oil importer Singapore has given $10.675 billion  (RM 24 billion) directly to its people since 2000. Why is it that Malaysians have not received such grants directly even though we are rich in natural resources until we can export oil?

According to government estimates and answers to DAP MPs in Parliament, Petronas has earned RM 500 billion since it was established in 1974. The natural question that Badawi must answer is how come Malaysians can not get a single cent directly from the RM 500 billion oil revenues whilst Singaporeans without a single cent of earnings from oil revenue can benefit from RM 24 billion these last 5 years?

Instead of opposing street protests Ramon should be supporting the efforts by  Malaysians to demand both accountability and economic justice from the government  to prevent all our oil revenue from being misused by the select few.

(28/03/2006)