IT was good news for the people when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced last week that the government was not going to increase fuel prices for the time being (”Fuel prices stay for now” — NST, Jan 3), not when it can still maintain and cushion the current prices.

Although it may be good news for everybody, it is, however, bad news for the government as the current fuel subsidy shows signs of rising again.

The current fuel prices may not be maintained for long, considering that the government is being hard hit by the rising price of oil globally.

Malaysians will have to brace themselves for an increase in fuel prices in the foreseeable future.

No one likes an increment in fuel prices, or any hikes for that matter.

However, whether one likes it or not, a hike is, in my opinion, unavoidable.

When the fuel price hike does take effect, Malaysians will have to rely on car-pooling or fully utilise public transportation, even if it is, at times, unreliable.

And, as with previous hikes, the increase in prices of goods and services will also follow suit.

That is for sure.

Source: NST – January 7, 2008